A devastating house fire in Ballarat has led to major changes in Victoria’s rental safety laws. In early 2022, Simon Scarff tragically lost his life when his rental home caught fire. Despite calling triple-zero, emergency services could not reach him in time. The home had no working smoke alarm. Simon’s lease was month-to-month and began before March 2021, which meant his landlord was not legally required to install or maintain a smoke alarm. This heartbreaking incident exposed a dangerous gap in existing legislation.

Determined to prevent future tragedies, Simon’s family campaigned for reform. His sister and mother rallied public support, gathering thousands of signatures and raising awareness of the issue. Their advocacy reached the coroner’s court, where it was concluded that Simon’s death was preventable. The coroner recommended expanding smoke alarm laws to cover all rental properties—regardless of when the lease began. The case put a spotlight on outdated laws and the urgent need for consistent safety measures across all Victorian rentals.

The Victorian Government has now confirmed that this reform is going ahead. It closes a long-standing loophole that excluded rental properties with agreements signed before March 29, 2021, from mandatory smoke alarm safety checks. From now on, all rental properties in Victoria will be required to undergo annual smoke alarm testing—no exceptions. This change ensures that tenants in older properties are no longer left behind when it comes to basic fire safety.

According to the Government, the reform will bring an estimated 240,000 additional rental properties into compliance with mandatory annual smoke alarm checks. These properties had previously been exempt, meaning landlords were not legally required to maintain or test alarms. In fact, data from the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority showed that in 2023, around 5% of rental homes in Victoria did not fall under the smoke alarm testing rules—leaving tens of thousands of households at risk. This reform eliminates that risk by setting a universal standard for all rentals.

The new laws also reinforce the need for regular electrical and gas safety checks, which are now required every two years across the board. This comprehensive approach reflects the seriousness of fire risks and the importance of preventative maintenance. Property managers and landlords will now be clearly accountable for ensuring that working smoke alarms are installed, tested, and maintained on schedule—regardless of the type or age of the lease.

Simon Scarff’s family has welcomed the reforms, describing them as a vital step toward protecting Victorian renters. They believe Simon would be proud that his story has led to meaningful change and helped save lives. For them, this legislation is not only a tribute to his memory but a practical way to stop the same thing from happening to others.

These new rules send a clear message: rental safety is not negotiable. Whether you’re a tenant in a brand-new apartment or a decades-old weatherboard home, you now have the right to the same level of smoke alarm protection. And for landlords and agents, the expectations are now clearly defined—because every Victorian deserves to feel safe in their own home.

Reference: Victorian smoke alarm reforms require landlords to conduct yearly checks on all rentals