There are two electrical safety rules you can't skip when you sell or rent out a home in WA. They catch plenty of people out, usually about a week before settlement.
When a home in WA is sold or rented out, it needs compliant smoke alarms and enough RCDs (safety switches). Neither is complicated, but leaving them to the last minute is stressful. Here's what each one means.
Before a home is sold, rented or hired out, the smoke alarms need to be:
Every smoke alarm has a date on the back. If yours is more than 10 years old, it needs replacing, even if it still beeps when you press the test button.
An RCD cuts the power in a split second if electricity starts leaking somewhere it shouldn't, like through a person. Before a home in WA is sold or rented out, it needs at least two RCDs covering all the power point and lighting circuits.
Why two? So that if one trips, you don't lose power to the whole house.
If you're selling, it's up to you as the seller to have it sorted before the property changes hands. If you're renting it out, it's on the owner before the tenancy starts. Your settlement agent or property manager will usually ask for proof that it's been done.
We check the smoke alarms and the switchboard, replace or add whatever's needed, test everything, and give you the results in writing so your agent has what they need. More detail is on our smoke alarm and RCD compliance page.
Not sure where you stand? Send us a photo of your switchboard with the door open and one of a smoke alarm on the ceiling. We'll tell you over the phone what needs doing before you list or lease.
This is a general guide, not legal advice. The rules are set by the WA Government, and your settlement agent or property manager can confirm exactly what applies to your property.
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