A landmark McKell Institute report reveals loopholes in Victoria’s rental safety system. Drawing on Detector Inspector’s data, it shows how weak oversight impacts tenants, landlords, and property managers alike — leaving everyone exposed. The report calls for urgent reforms to deliver safety, transparency, and accountability.
1 October 2025
The McKell Institute has released a landmark report revealing serious gaps in Victoria’s rental safety framework, which has been welcomed by the biggest home safety service provider, Detector Inspector.
The report calls for urgent reforms to protect tenants and ensure landlords receive the services they pay for.
While Victoria leads the nation with mandatory annual smoke alarm testing and gas and electrical safety checks every 2-years, weak oversight and fragmented regulation allow unsafe practices to persist. Unqualified operators are profiting by cutting corners, while renters are left in the dark about the quality of inspections.
Jordan Kagan Gescheit, Executive Director and co-founder of Detector Inspector, welcomed the report as a vital contribution to public safety.
“The McKell Institute has provided exactly the kind of evidence-based analysis we need. These are practical solutions that will give renters peace of mind, ensure landlords get value for money, and create a level playing field for providers committed to doing the job properly,” said Jordan.
“Victoria has set the highest compliance standards for rental properties in Australia, but the lack of auditing, accreditation and clear accountability means tenants are still being exposed to risk. The report’s recommendations offer a roadmap to close loopholes, improve transparency, and ensure safety checks deliver on their intent.”
The report recommends establishing a central rental registry, accrediting and auditing safety check providers, mandating that tenants receive completed reports with new leases, and extending gas and electrical checks to all rental properties.
Jordan Kagan Gescheit said, Detector Inspector stood with the McKell Institute in calling for government to act.
“Stronger oversight and accreditation will stop unsafe shortcuts and guarantee that reforms genuinely protect Victorian renters,” Jordan said.
The McKell Institute and Detector Inspector urge policymakers to act swiftly on the report’s recommendations to strengthen Victoria’s safety checks and close the loopholes that allow poor practice to slip through.
These reforms aim to give Victorian tenants greater confidence that their homes meet safety standards and encourage compliance among service providers.
For more information or interviews, please contact:
Rika Rufina
E: rrufina@wrights.com.au
M: +61 406 151 340
About the McKell Institute
The McKell Institute is an independent, not-for-profit public policy institute dedicated to developing practical solutions to contemporary challenges. With offices in Victoria and across Australia, the Institute conducts rigorous research and engages with policymakers, industry, and the community to advance ideas that deliver fairer, more sustainable outcomes.
About Detector Inspector
Detector Inspector is one of Australia’s leading providers of residential safety services, conducting millions of smoke, gas and electrical safety checks and other essential services over its 20-year history right across Australia. Founded in Melbourne, the company partners with property managers, landlords, and community housing providers to deliver safer homes for renters while simplifying compliance with evolving regulations. Learn more about Detector Inspector here.
