Property inspections
We inspect your home regularly throughout your tenancy.
Inspections are necessary, as checking the condition of the property helps us plan any work required.
We need you to be present
We give you at least 7 days’ notice of the inspection. If the time or date doesn’t suit you, it’s very important that you let us know, so we can arrange another time.
We need at least one legal tenant (i.e., a person who has signed the State Tenancy Agreement) to be at the inspection. If the tenant can’t be home at the time, they can ask someone else (aged 18 or older) to be there instead.
Wet weather and other unavoidable circumstances can delay inspections. In these cases, we make every attempt to contact you beforehand to arrange another time.
If you’ve changed your phone number, please contact your nearest Housing Service Centre to update your details.
Entry notice
Under your State tenancy agreement, you must allow the inspections to take place.
We notify you of the inspection by sending you an Entry notice (Form 9), which allows us to enter the property to inspect it.
Read more about the rules and procedures for entering the property.
In some situations, we may be able to do the inspection by video call instead of having to visit your home in person. If you would like to have an inspection this way, please contact your nearest Housing Service Centre for more information.
Animals
Please adequately restrain any animals at your home on the day of inspection for the protection of our staff and security of your animals.
During the inspection
The inspecting officer carries identification.
The inspection takes 15–45 minutes, depending on the size of the house or unit and the amount of information we need.
We look at the condition of your home–inside and outside—and do several health and safety checks, which may include:
- testing your smoke alarms
- ensuring anti-tilt brackets are fitted to upright stoves
- testing the function of the RCDs (safety switches) fitted to your electrical circuits. This interrupts the power supply for a few seconds.
The inspecting officer also ensures the appropriate warning stickers are present, including:
- a hot water system warning sticker, with advice on how to reduce the risk of dangerous levels of bacteria in your hot water system
- an asbestos warning sticker—for all buildings built before 1990—warning contractors that building products containing asbestos may have been used in the home
- a smoke alarm sticker, with instructions on what to do if your smoke alarm sounds and how to ensure the alarm remains effective.
Safety issues
While the inspector checks for common safety issues that they identify with a visual inspection, the inspection doesn’t guarantee that your home is completely safe.
To report maintenance issues, contact your nearest Housing Service Centre or submit an online maintenance request.