How long does my landlord have to fix an urgent repair in Victoria?
Your landlord must respond immediately to fix an urgent repair in Victoria. If they fail to act promptly, you can legally authorize a qualified tradesperson to carry out the urgent repair yourself, up to a maximum cost of $2,500, and claim reimbursement.
Was this helpful?
10 readers found this helpful
How it works in practice
Understanding Urgent Repairs
In Victoria, the law strictly classifies certain critical issues as urgent repairs. These include burst water services, blocked or broken toilets, dangerous electrical faults, serious gas leaks, and severe roof leaks. Because these specific issues threaten your safety or make the rental property unlivable, your rental provider must act immediately upon being notified.
Steps if the Landlord Fails to Act
If you contact your landlord or property manager and they do not respond without delay, you are not expected to live in a dangerous or unsanitary situation. Victorian rental law explicitly allows you to take control and arrange for the repairs yourself.
Reimbursement Limits
You can legally authorize a suitably qualified professional to fix the issue, provided the total repair cost does not exceed $2,500. Once you pay the tradesperson, you must give the landlord written notice detailing the repair alongside the receipt. The landlord then has a strict legal obligation to reimburse you for these reasonable costs within seven days of receiving your formal notice.
Important exceptions
If the urgent repair is estimated to cost more than $2,500, or you simply cannot afford to pay for the tradesperson upfront, you cannot authorize the repair yourself. In these situations, you must apply directly to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for an expedited urgent hearing.
Additionally, if the urgent repair was required because of damage caused by your own negligence or deliberate actions, the rules shift. The landlord is still legally required to ensure the property is made safe and repaired, but they have the right to bill you for the entire cost of the repair work.
What you should do now
-
Contact your landlord or property manager immediately, ideally by phone, to report the urgent repair.
-
Follow up your phone call with a formal written notice, such as an email, detailing the problem and requesting immediate action.
-
Arrange for a qualified tradesperson to fix the issue if the landlord does not respond, ensuring the quoted cost is under $2,500.
-
Keep all receipts and provide the landlord with a formal written request for reimbursement of the repair costs.
-
Apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) if the landlord refuses to pay within seven days, or if the cost exceeds $2,500.
Expert Notes
No expert notes have been added to this question yet.
People also asked
Explore highly relevant questions and get instant verified short answers.