What to do if you have an urgent repair?

Firstly you must ensure that it falls into one of the following categories..

Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, urgent repairs in a rental property are:

  • burst water service
  • blocked or broken toilet system
  • serious roof leak
  • gas leak
  • dangerous electrical fault
  • flooding or serious flood damage
  • serious storm or fire damage
  • an essential service or appliance for hot water, water, cooking, heating, or laundering is not working
  • the gas, electricity or water supply is not working
  • a cooling appliance or service provided by the rental provider is not working
  • the property does not meet minimum standards
  • a safety-related device, such as a smoke alarm or pool fence, is not working
  • an appliance, fitting or fixture that is not working and causes a lot of water to be wasted
  • any fault or damage in the property that makes it unsafe or insecure, including pests, mould or damp caused by or related to the building structure
  • a serious problem with a lift or staircase.

For non-urgent repairs, view our Non-urgent repairs page.

If the answer is yes to any of the above,  the renter should first take reasonable steps to arrange for the landlords or agent to fix the problem.

The rental provider must organise and pay for all repairs if they are not the renter’s fault.

If the renter caused the damage, the renter may have to pay for the repairs.

Renters must tell their rental provider or property manager about any repairs that need to be made as soon as possible.

If the renter is not able to get the rental provider or agent to carry out urgent repairs, the renter has authorisation to action urgent repairs up to $2500. The rental provider is liable for reimbursement or payment for this cost and your agent will work with you through this process. Receipts must be kept to prove how much was spent. If a water appliance, fitting or fixture needs to be replaced quickly  as part of an urgent repair arranged by the renter, the renter can have an ‘A’ rated item put in.

Please refer to your “Renters guide” to assist you with the correct procedures through this process and ensure that you notify your property manager in writing as to what has occurred. Note: If you authorise an out of hours repair and the issue is not deemed “urgent” you may be liable for the associated costs.

After Hours contact details

Electrician– Surelec     9416 4425
Plumber– Exceptional Plumbing    1300 975   862
Locksmith – Liberty Locksmiths – 0414 476 424
Glazier – Unlimited Glass – 0418 365 107
Flood Damage – Kleentech – 1300 30 50 30
Citipower– 13 12 80
Helpful links for renters

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