Safety Switch Requirements for Queensland Landlords
Advice from DHG Electrical Services
If you own a rental property in Queensland, safety switches are not optional. This is a general overview rather than legal advice, so check the current rules for your circumstances, but the principles are clear.
They are not the same thing. A circuit breaker protects the wiring from overload. A safety switch (RCD) protects people, cutting the power in a fraction of a second if electricity leaks to earth through a person or a fault. Both matter, and a modern board has both.
Rental properties must have safety switches installed, and as a landlord you have a duty of care to provide a safe property. Many older homes have a safety switch on the power circuits but not the lighting or other circuits, which no longer meets modern expectations.
Safety switches should be tested regularly using the test button, and it is good practice to have them checked between tenancies. A switch that does not trip when tested is not protecting anyone.
We can inspect a rental property, confirm which circuits are protected, install additional safety switches where needed, and give you a record for your files. It protects your tenants and helps you meet your obligations.
DHG Electrical Services is a locally owned electrical business serving Moreton Bay and Brisbane. We hold Electrical Contractor Licence 90356, are members of Master Electricians Australia, and back every new install with our lifetime workmanship guarantee. For a free, no-pressure quote, call us on (07) 3205 1752 or request a quote online.
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