The short answer
In NSW, a landlord must provide a rental that is supplied with electricity and has enough sockets for lighting, heating and other appliances, and must keep it that way for the whole tenancy. Any electrical fault is an urgent repair that must be fixed within a reasonable time by a licensed electrician. Smoke alarms must be checked every year and fixed within 2 business days if they stop working. The condition report must record visible electrical hazards and whether a safety switch is present and working. NSW law doesn't require regular electrical safety inspections of rentals, doesn't require landlords to install safety switches, and doesn't require test and tag of appliances.
What the law requires
The electrical minimum standard
Under section 52 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010, every NSW rental must meet seven minimum standards. The electrical one is being "supplied with electricity or gas, and having enough electricity or gas sockets for lighting, heating and other appliances". The minimum standards must be maintained throughout the tenancy.
Since 25 November 2025, a property must also meet the minimum standards when it is advertised for rent, and advertising a property that doesn't is an offence. So it pays to sort out dead power points or missing outlets before the listing goes up, not after.
Electrical faults are urgent repairs
The NSW Government says any electrical fault in a rental, before or during a tenancy, is an urgent repair. That specifically includes a faulty safety switch, or one that keeps detecting a fault. Landlords must have urgent repairs done within a reasonable time, and tenants must report faults straight away.
Every electrical repair is electrical wiring work, so it must be done by a licensed electrician. You can check an electrician's licence on the NSW Government's licence check before you book. The NSW Government warns that DIY electrical work is dangerous and illegal, and it can void home insurance.
Smoke alarms
Landlords have specific smoke alarm duties under the Residential Tenancies Regulation 2019:
- keep alarms in working order, and never remove or disable them;
- check them every year;
- replace removable batteries every year (lithium: as the manufacturer specifies);
- replace alarms within 10 years of manufacture, or sooner if the manufacturer specifies;
- repair or replace a faulty alarm within 2 business days of finding out;
- use a licensed electrician for hardwired alarms.
The full detail, including notice periods and what tenants can do, is in smoke alarms in NSW rental properties.
The condition report
The start-of-tenancy condition report must record:
- visible electrical hazards, such as loose or damaged sockets, loose wiring and sparking power points;
- whether a safety switch is present and working.
Recording a hazard isn't the same as fixing it. If the report turns up a loose power point or a safety switch that doesn't work, get it repaired.
What the law doesn't require
There is a lot of confusion online because other states have different rules. Based on the NSW Government's rental pages:
| Commonly assumed requirement | NSW position |
|---|---|
| Electrical safety inspection every 2 years | Not required in NSW. That is a Victorian rule |
| Landlords must install safety switches | No NSW law found requiring it. The condition report records whether one is present and working |
| Smoke alarms in every bedroom, hardwired and interconnected | Not required for existing homes. The minimum is one working AS 3786 alarm per storey |
| Test and tag of appliances in the rental | Not required. The test and tag duty under WHS law applies to workplaces |
| Minimum energy efficiency standards | Not introduced. NSW was consulting on them in April 2026 |
Not required doesn't mean not worth doing. A safety switch on every circuit protects your tenants and your property, and a periodic check by a licensed electrician picks up problems before they become urgent repairs. The NSW Government recommends having an electrician check properties built before 2000, and it says electrical faults and appliances cause 40% of NSW house fires each year.
Safety switches in rentals
Safety switches (RCDs) become mandatory when work is done:
- if a circuit is altered or added, that circuit needs RCD protection;
- if the switchboard is replaced, every applicable circuit needs it.
So if you are renovating a kitchen or adding power points between tenancies, the affected circuits will get safety switches. If the switchboard is old, a full upgrade with an RCBO on each circuit is often the better option. See safety switch rules in NSW and the switchboard estimate.
Practical tips for Riverina landlords
- Book the yearly smoke alarm check with anything else that's due. One visit is cheaper than three, especially for properties outside Wagga where travel applies.
- Fix condition report items before the tenant moves in. A loose power point at the start can turn into an urgent repair mid-tenancy.
- Keep the CCEWs. Every piece of electrical work comes with a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work. Since 1 July 2026 these are lodged through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal, and you get a copy if your email is entered. They are a useful record of what's been done.
- Tell tenants how to test the safety switch. Pressing the test button every six months is what the NSW Government recommends. See how to test a safety switch.
- Old houses need a closer look. An older rental may still have ceramic fuses, no safety switches, or a black backing board made before 1987 that may contain asbestos.
Nelson can help landlords and property managers across Wagga and the Riverina. Most landlord work, such as repairs, power points and smoke alarms, isn't on a published price list, so call 0416 085 416 or send the job through for a written quote. Fault finding is charged by the hour. Travel is free close to Wagga and charged further out, which is another reason to group jobs into one visit.
Common questions
Do landlords have to install safety switches in NSW?
We have not found any NSW law that requires it. The condition report must record whether a safety switch is present and working, and a faulty one is an urgent repair. Safety switches are required on any circuit that is altered or added, and on all circuits if the switchboard is replaced.
Are electrical safety checks mandatory for NSW rentals?
No. NSW has no law requiring regular electrical safety inspections of rentals. The 2-yearly check is a Victorian rule. A periodic check is still a good idea, especially for older properties.
Is a faulty power point an urgent repair in NSW?
Yes. The NSW Government says any electrical fault in a rental is an urgent repair, to be fixed within a reasonable time by a licensed electrician.
Do landlords have to test and tag appliances?
No NSW tenancy rule requires it. Test and tag duties apply to workplaces under WHS law.
Can a landlord do their own electrical repairs?
No, unless they are a licensed electrician. Any electrical repair is electrical wiring work, which needs a licence in NSW. The only exceptions for owners are things like changing a light globe and, for removable-battery smoke alarms, changing the battery.