February 06, 2024

IS IT LIVEABLE?
A MYSTERY SHOP OF PRIVATE RENTAL PROPERTIES

Are private rental properties safe, clean and liveable?.

CPRC and Tenants Victoria conducted a mystery shop of 100 rental properties in Victoria. While many properties met the minimum standards, issues such as maintenance, visible mould, and lack of window coverings were associated with poorly maintained affordable properties.

This report:

Download Full Report

Key findings

icon

While most properties met all the minimum standards 

icon
9 of the properties we viewed had visible mould
icon
10 of the properties failed to provide adequate window coverings
icon
15 of the properties failed to meet the standards for heating
icon
26 of the properties did not meet good practice for smoke alarm placement

%

Half of all agents could not provide information on the compliance and safety of the property to prospective renters

%

28% of the properties had maintenance issues, with these issues more common in lower cost properties.

Recommendations

icon
Clear guidance about legal obligations
icon
Monitoring and enforcement priorities in the private rental market
icon
Legal reform to improve information provision
icon
Role for industry leadership to improve good practices
icon
Improved standards to make homes more liveable
icon
Improved standards to make homes safer
icon
Scope for further research

Where to from here?

CPRC welcomes the opportunity to work further on this issue with government, regulators, policy makers, academia and the community sector. 

If you are in one the above groups and would like a one-on-one briefing for your organisation contact our team now.

Links

Book a Briefing View Media Release

Other reports

Newsletter sign-up

Sign up to receive the CPRC email newsletter

Sign up
Skip to content