An electrical safety switch, also known as a residual current device (RCD), is a device installed in your electrical switchboard that monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit. If it detects a current leak, which could indicate someone is being electrocuted or there is a fault that could cause a fire, it cuts the power within milliseconds.
Safety switches are different from circuit breakers. A circuit breaker protects the wiring from overloads and short circuits. A safety switch protects people from electric shock. Most rental properties need both.
Legal Requirements
Every Australian state and territory requires safety switches in rental properties, though the specifics vary:
- At a minimum, most states require safety switches on all power point circuits (general purpose outlets)
- Some states also require safety switches on lighting circuits
- Queensland requires safety switches on all circuits, including lighting, power, and any other circuits in the property. See the full Queensland landlord obligations guide for details
- New installations and renovations: any new electrical work typically requires safety switches to be installed to current standards
The requirements have been tightened over the years, and older properties that were previously exempt may now need to be upgraded. Check your state's current requirements.
Testing Safety Switches
Safety switches should be tested regularly to ensure they are working. Most have a built-in test button; pressing it should cause the switch to trip and cut power to the protected circuits. The general recommendation is to test every three months.
As a landlord, you should include safety switch testing in your routine maintenance schedule. Some states require landlords to arrange periodic electrical safety inspections by a licensed electrician.
Cost of Installation
Installing safety switches is relatively inexpensive. A licensed electrician can typically install a safety switch for a few hundred dollars per circuit. The installation cost is tax-deductible as a repair and maintenance expense. Given the protection they provide, it is one of the most cost-effective safety upgrades you can make.
Why It Matters for Landlords
Electrical safety switches are a legal requirement, and non-compliance can result in fines and liability issues. They are part of the broader minimum housing standards that landlords must meet. More importantly, they prevent potentially fatal electric shocks. Ensure your properties have compliant safety switches on all required circuits and that they are tested regularly. Safety switches are often checked alongside smoke alarm compliance and pool fencing requirements.
propkt tracks maintenance and compliance tasks for each property, making it easy to schedule and record safety switch testing.