Summary of standards | Best Practice tips |
Residents’ rooms - any door used for entry to or exit from a resident’s room must be fitted with a lock operated by a key from the outside and can be unlocked from inside without a key. A key includes a fob or PIN code.
- a resident’s room must have at least two unoccupied working power outlets in addition to any other outlets used to power appliances provided by the operator.
- residents’ windows must have a covering that provides privacy and can be opened and closed by the resident and must be able to reasonably block light.
| - The two working power outlets can be one double or two single power outlets, but not double adaptors or powerboards.
- Power outlets should not be inside cupboards.
- Window coverings should be substantial enough to prevent anyone seeing into the room from the outside, day or night.
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Emergency evacuation plan - an evacuation diagram that complies with section 3.5 and Appendix E of AS 3745 must be prominently displayed in each resident’s room and in all shared areas.
| Fire Rescue Victoria has an easy to prepare emergency evacuation plan kit, which is available at raav.org.au. |
Gas and electrical requirements - all gas installations and fittings must be checked at least once every two years by a licensed gas fitter.
- all electrical installations and fittings must be checked at least once every two years by a licensed electrician.
- all power outlets and electrical circuits must be connected to circuit breakers that comply with AS/NZS 3000 and switchboard-type residual current devices that comply with AS/NZS 3190, AS/NZS 61008.1 or AS/NZS 61009.1.
- you must keep records for a gas safety check for two years after the check was made and for two years after the electrical check was made.
| - Make sure your electrical and gas contractors have the appropriate qualifications to perform these checks.
- It is important to have your electrician advise if the outlets and electrical circuits, circuit breakers and residual current devices comply with the relevant Australian Standards.
- The records must include the details of the licensed gas fitter or licensed electrician who performed the checks.
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Bathrooms - a shared bathroom or toilet must be fitted with a privacy latch, bolt or catch that can be securely latched from the inside without a key. Not a cabin hook.
- at least one toilet for every ten (10) people.
- at least one bath or shower and one washbasin for every ten (10) people.
- continuous and adequate supply of hot and cold water to all toilet, bathing, laundry, kitchen and drinking water facilities.
- showers must have a 3-star water efficiency rating or higher, some exceptions apply.
- rooms and communal areas in a clean and well-maintained condition.
| Hardware stores have a range of inexpensive fittings that comply with this requirement. For best practice: - At least two toilets for every ten (10) people.
- It is preferable now to provide ensuites for each room but if that’s not possible provide at least two bathrooms with a bath, shower and washbasin for every ten (10) people.
- Strong lock on bathroom doors that is not possible to break.
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Kitchens - each resident must have access to and use of food preparation facilities. These can be provided in the resident’s room or a shared kitchen.
- if these facilities are in a resident’s room, they must include a food preparation area, a sink, oven and cook-top in good working order, a refrigerator with at least 80 litres capacity, a cupboard with a minimum 0.1 cubic metres (100 litres) of storage capacity for each person in the room.
- a shared kitchen must have a:
- dedicated food preparation area, a sink, an oven and cook-top with four burners in good working order for every twelve (12) or fewer residents who do not have an oven or cook-top in their room (based on the maximum number of residents the rooming house can accommodate)
- refrigerator with at least 400 litres capacity for every four (4) or fewer residents, and an additional 28.5 litres capacity for each additional resident
- lockable cupboard for each resident, with a minimum 0.1 cubic metre capacity.
| - Make sure that any cooking appliance is assessed for fire safety risk (e.g. do not install a bottled gas unit - bottled gas camp stoves are not suitable)
- cooking and food preparation facilities should be located together
- sinks should only be provided in bedrooms if kitchenette facilities are also provided; otherwise, a sink should be in the kitchen
- an oven must be at least large enough to hold a full-size dinner plate or medium oven dish; toaster ovens may not meet this requirement
- all refrigerators should have a freezer compartment
- lockable cupboards should be separately keyed, and each resident should have their own key.
- A microwave oven may supplement those properties that have “peak times”.
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Heating standards (NEW!) - From 1/12/25, rooming house operators must install a fixed heater secured to a wall, floor or ceiling of each resident’s room. A fixed heater is either:
- An electric ducted heating or electric hydronic heating system; or
- An electric non-portable heater; or
- A non-ducted air conditioner or heat pump with 2 star or above heating rating
| - Existing gas ducted or gas hydronic heating systems in good working order do not need to be removed until they reach the end of their life.
- Rooming house operators may be exempt from part or all of the standard if they have existing fixed heating.
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Dining facilities in a common area - must have enough chairs for the maximum number of residents that can be accommodated in a resident’s room.
- must have a table that can comfortably accommodate this number of chairs.
| If there are two occupants in a room, then a table and two chairs will be required. These may be located in a common area or the residents’ room. |
Shared laundries There must be at least one set of laundry facilities for every twelve (12) residents - must have a wash trough or basin plumbed to a continuous and adequate supply of hot and cold water.
- immediately next to the trough or basin, must have a space with hot and cold water supply outlets suitable for a washing machine and a washing machine must be provided for every twelve (12) residents.
- must have a clothesline or other clothes drying facility.
| Install a commercial washing machine in each laundry. |
General rooming house standards - internal rooms, corridors and hallways must have a level of natural or artificial light appropriate to the function and use of the room.
- habitable rooms must have access to natural light during daylight hours, and artificial light during non-daylight hours, appropriate to the function and use of the room.
- habitable rooms, bathrooms, shower rooms, toilets and laundries must have ventilation that complies with the relevant Building Code of Australia (see section 18 of the Regulations).
- each external window that is able to be opened must stay securely closed or open without a key.
- each rooming house entrance must have a lock operated by a key from outside, and without a key from inside the rooming house.
- the main entry must have a window, peep-hole or intercom system, and a working external light fitting that provides enough light during non-daylight.
- rooming houses must be structurally sound and weather-proof.
- rooming houses must be free from mould or damp that is caused by or related to the building structure.
- any rooms likely to be used as living rooms must have window coverings capable of reasonably blocking light.
- all corded internal windows coverings must have loose cords secured to a wall by a guide or cleat.
| - It is important for you to understand and implement these general standards to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents.
- Rooms should have either:
- windows that open to allow enough air into the room, or
- an exhaust fan installed in the ceiling or wall,
so there is adequate ventilation complying with the National Construction Code (NCC). - Adequate lighting for internal rooms generally means a person should be able to comfortably read a newspaper or magazine in the room.
- Adequate lighting for corridors and hallways generally means people should be able to navigate these areas safely.
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Resident register - You must keep a register of every resident for at least 12 months after the date of the last entry into the register. The register must include the resident's name and future address, and arrival and departure dates.
| The register must be provided to an inspector from CAV or council and can be either: - Hard copy register stored securely; or
- Electronic register.
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