Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Residential Tenancies Act 1997 - SECT 72

Urgent repairs

72. Urgent repairs



(1) A tenant may arrange for urgent repairs to be carried out to the rented
premises if-

   (a)  the tenant has taken reasonable steps to arrange for the landlord or
        the landlord's agent to immediately carry out the repairs; and

   (b)  the tenant is unable to get the landlord or agent to carry out the
        repairs.

(2) If the tenant carries out repairs under subsection (1)-

   (a)  the tenant must give the landlord 14 days written notice of the
        repairs carried out and the cost; and

   (b)  the landlord is liable to reimburse the tenant for the reasonable cost
        of the repairs or $1000, whichever is less.

(3) If urgent repairs are required to an item that uses or supplies water and
that does not have at least an A rating, and that item cannot be repaired, the
tenant may replace it with an item that does have an A rating.

(4) This section does not apply to fixtures, furniture or equipment supplied
by the tenant.