The Safer Home Package was designed to provide a simple, cost-effective solution for landlords and property managers to address the new safety requirements imposed by changes to the Victorian Residential Tenancies Act.
New Victorian regulations from March 2021
Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act and its regulations came into effect on 29 March, 2021, imposing significantly more safety and compliance obligations on Victorian property managers and landlords.
Importantly, there is a shift from certain safety measures being recommended, to enforcement of mandatory safety checks including annual smoke alarm servicing and gas and electrical safety checks every 2 years. The services must be completed within the prescribed time frames. Otherwise, they must be carried out as soon as practicable after a lease changes over either from one tenant to another, or from a fixed-term lease to a periodic lease, creating an administrative headache for property managers and service providers alike.
Safer Home Package to the rescue
The Safer Home Package was specifically designed to reduce the burden of the new compliance requirements for landlords and property managers alike, whilst providing safer homes for tenants.
By offering a bundled discount, and a low recurring annual subscription fee, the Safer Home Package provides year-round protection and compliance assurance across smoke alarms, gas and electrical services.
Find out more about the Safer Home package and how it provides year-round protection and compliance assurance.
All the services. None of the hassle.
Detector Inspector’s Safer Home Package makes compliance simple, efficient and cost effective.
Smoke alarm safety
This comprehensive service requires smoke, button and decibel tests on each alarm, checking and replacing batteries as required, verifying alarm location and checking whether alarms need to be replaced.
The service includes:
- Annual servicing of all smoke alarms by our trained technicians
- Free callouts for smoke alarm faults between services
- Free replacements of batteries and expired or faulty smoke alarms
- Compliance certification and full digital audit trail
Gas safety
This comprehensive service requires checks of your main gas line and each landlord supplied gas appliance for carbon monoxide leaks and other faults.
The service includes:
- Service every 2 years by Type A gas fitter
- Free callouts for faults
- Free replacement of faulty or damaged thermocouples and protection of synthetic pipework from UV exposure
- Compliance certification & full digital audit trail
Electrical safety
This comprehensive service requires checks of owner supplied electrical appliances, installations and fittings including earth loop and polarity tests of all accessible power points.
The service includes:
- Service every 2 years by qualified electrician
- Free callouts for faults
- Free replacement of faulty or damaged safety switches and circuit breakers, and standard light switches and power points
- Compliance certification & full digital audit trail
View full Terms and Conditions here.
Only the Safer Home subscription package includes:
Discounted, consistent pricing
10%+ saving on the cost of individual services, smoothed into predictable, equal annual payments.
Free callouts
Free callouts for faults in checked items and other issues like pilot light relights.
Free parts
Free replacement parts such as standard light switches, power points, safety switches and thermocouples.
Reduced hassle
One scheduled service from year two onwards means one home visit per year to achieve ongoing compliance.
Subscription plans to suit every property
Our subscription plans include smoke alarm and electrical services, with the number of gas appliances at the property determining the right plan for every property.
Pricing plans
Safer Home Subscription
Annual recurring service fee.
All prices are excluding GST.
For properties with 2+ gas appliances
- Smoke alarm
- Electrical
- Gas (2+)
$379 /year
Plus top up fee
$299
(first year only)
In the first year, all three services must be provided in order to certify your property's compliance with the Regulations and so the top up fee, together with the annual recurring service fee, covers the cost of doing so in the first year. In the second year and beyond, only the annual recurring service fee is payable. For more detail, see FAQs below.
For properties with 1 gas appliance only
- Smoke alarm
- Electrical
- Gas (1)
$325 /year
Plus top up fee
$235
(first year only)
In the first year, all three services must be provided in order to certify your property's compliance with the Regulations and so the top up fee, together with the annual recurring service fee, covers the cost of doing so in the first year. In the second year and beyond, only the annual recurring service fee is payable. For more detail, see FAQs below.
For properties with no gas appliances
- Smoke alarm
- Electrical
$215 /year
Plus top up fee
$135
(first year only)
In the first year, all three services must be provided in order to certify your property's compliance with the Regulations and so the top up fee, together with the annual recurring service fee, covers the cost of doing so in the first year. In the second year and beyond, only the annual recurring service fee is payable. For more detail, see FAQs below.
For properties with:
2+ gas appliances
1 gas appliance only
No gas appliances
Pricing plans
Safer Home Subscription
Annual recurring service fee.
All prices are excluding GST.
$379 /year
Plus top up fee
$299
(first year only)
In the first year, we need to provide all the services under your Safer Home plan. The annual recurring service fee doesn't cover the cost of all the services, and so the top up fee is required. This is only payable in the first year of your subscription. In the second year and beyond, only the annual recurring service fee is payable. For more detail, see FAQs below.
$325 /year
Plus top up fee
$235
(first year only)
In the first year, all three services must be provided in order to certify your property's compliance with the Regulations and so the top up fee, together with the annual recurring service fee, covers the cost of doing so in the first year. In the second year and beyond, only the annual recurring service fee is payable. For more detail, see FAQs below.
$215 /year
Plus top up fee
$135
(first year only)
In the first year, all three services must be provided in order to certify your property's compliance with the Regulations and so the top up fee, together with the annual recurring service fee, covers the cost of doing so in the first year. In the second year and beyond, only the annual recurring service fee is payable. For more detail, see FAQs below.
- Smoke alarm
- Electrical
- Gas (2+)
- Smoke alarm
- Electrical
- Gas (1)
- Smoke alarm
- Electrical
Frequently asked questions
Safer Home plans are pre-paid subscription services that attract an annual recurring service fee that is paid on or around the same date each year. In the first year only, an additional fee (called the top up fee) also needs to be paid.Â
In the first year, we need to provide all the services under your Safer Home plan. The annual recurring service fee doesn't cover the cost of all the services, and so the top up fee is required. This is only payable in the first year of your subscription.Â
In the second year (and each year thereafter), only the annual recurring service fee is payable. The annual recurring service fee covers:Â
- the cost of the smoke alarm service that is carried out each year; andÂ
- contributes 50% toward the cost of the other services included in your plan. In this way, you are paying the larger fees in instalments, rather than in larger lumpy amounts every other year. Â
Is a Safer Home subscription plan right for me?
The Safer Home plan has been designed to make compliance at your properties simple and give you peace of mind that you're covered in the case of an incident. We have included a range of benefits to make the Safer Home plan an attractive choice for our customers.
First, we have extended a 10% discount vs the price of our pay-as-you-go services. Second, it allows you as a rental provider to have the same, predictable subscription fee each year. Third, we have added a raft of inclusions including free callouts and some parts for issues with checked items that can save you hundreds of dollars in expensive fees. With your renters having rights around urgent repairs, knowing that we're there when you or your renters need us and that you won't be slugged with expensive call out fees is really valuable.
In the first year, you pay the annual recurring service fee attaching to your selected plan, plus a once-off top up fee. In the second year and beyond, you only pay the annual recurring service fee.
Smoke alarms must be checked every year and electrical and gas safety checks must be performed at least every 2 years. There are a number of reasons supporting the approach we’ve taken.
First, it means you have smooth, predictable, equal payments from years 2 onwards.
Second, it allows us to extend a 10% discount on the price of the individual services.
Third, we can extend a range of benefits connected to, but different from the services. These include free callouts for issues with checked items. For example, did you know that to get someone out to urgently relight a pilot light at your property could cost you well in excess of $100 for the plumbers time? With the Safer Home plan, this would be done at no charge to you. It also includes free parts for some standard items when they fail. For example, did you know that replacing a thermocouple in your gas heater could set you back over $150 including time and parts? With the Safer Home plan, this would be replaced and the issue rectified at no charge to you.
These are just some of the benefits that we are able to extend under the Safer Home subscription plans.
The price of the individual services are as follows:
- Smoke alarm service - $90 per year
- Electrical service - $299 every 2 years
- Gas service (one appliance only) - $239 every 2 years
- Gas service (two or more appliances) - $365 every 2 years
The comparative pricing therefore is:
|
Safer Home Plan |
2+ gas appliances |
1 |
No |
|
Annual recurring fee |
$379 |
$325 |
$215 |
|
Top up fee (first year only) |
$299 |
$239 |
$135 |
|
First year total |
$678 |
$564 |
$350 |
|
Individual Services |
|||
|
Smoke alarm service |
$90 |
$90 |
$90 |
|
Electrical service |
$299 |
$299 |
$299 |
|
Gas service |
$365 |
$239 |
$0 |
|
First year total |
$754 |
$628 |
$389 |
| Â | Â | Â | Â |
|
Safer Home discount |
10% |
10% |
10% |
All prices are excluding GST.
Every home has electricity and smoke alarms, but not every home has gas connected. Additionally, at some homes like apartments, there may only be one gas appliance, such as a gas cooktop. Based on feedback from landlords, we have looked to tailor pricing based on the needs of each property. This has allowed us to offer multiple plans. All the plans include the essential electrical and smoke alarm services and then the right plan for each property is based on the number of gas appliances at the property.
Safer Home is providing you with a comprehensive compliance service for your property. As such, your plan must be appropriate for your property. If you make a mistake, don't worry. When we find out that it's different, we'll upgrade your subscription and send you a revised invoice. Once paid, we'll complete the Safer Home service.
If you can't remember, we recommend selecting the plan for properties with no gas appliances regardless of whether it’s a house or an apartment. Don’t worry! If we visit the property and find that the number of gas appliances is different, we'll automatically adjust your subscription and your fees will be adjusted.
Yes. For 4 or more properties, you will be eligible for a further 5% discount. If you're a block owner, for 10 or more apartments in a single block, you will be eligible for a further 10% discount. In all cases, these additional discounts will be automatically applied and shown in your first year's invoice.
Yes. Where you are an existing Detector Inspector customer of our smoke alarm or gas services, a rebate will be calculated as follows: (service fee paid/number of days remaining = rebate amount) and applied to your first year's invoice.
Following confirmation of your selection of Safer Home subscription plan, we will invoice you for the subscription fee applicable either directly or through your agency. Please note that a top up fee will be payable in the first year of all Safer Home plans.
The subscription commences on the date of invoice.
The services will be carried out as soon as practicable following the commencement of the subscription. In most cases, the services will not be performed on the same day as experience has shown it creates a range of issues for both trades.
Cooktops, hot water services, logfire, heater, pool heating and mains connected BBQs