Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work NSW: What Landlords Need to Know

What Is a CCEW?

A Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) is an official record of the safety and compliance test for electrical installation work in NSW. The tester submits it to Building Commission NSW through the BCNSW eCert portal, and the customer should receive a copy. It records compliance with the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2018, relevant Australian Standards, and the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017, including the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000).

The CCEW must be submitted no later than 7 days after the electrical test is completed. Keep your copy as the record of the tested work.

When Is a CCEW Required?

A CCEW is required for electrical work that installs, repairs, adds to, or alters equipment in an electrical installation. This includes like-for-like replacement of water heaters, ovens, stovetops, and electrical accessories, as well as:

• Installing or relocating power points and light switches
• Replacing a switchboard or adding circuit breakers
• Installing hardwired smoke alarms
• Running new circuits for air conditioning, hot water systems, or ovens
• Other work involving electrical installation equipment

If you are unsure whether a task requires a CCEW, ask the licensed electrician before the work begins.

Why This Matters for Landlords

NSW does not mandate periodic electrical safety inspections for existing rental properties — unlike Victoria, which requires two-yearly checks. Instead, NSW operates on a fault-based system: you must ensure electrical outlets and switchboards are safe and functional at the start of a tenancy and promptly repair reported defects.

The CCEW is your paper trail. If a tenant suffers an electrical injury and you cannot produce a CCEW for the last electrical work done on the property, you have a serious liability problem. If you can produce one from a licensed electrician, you have evidence that the work met the statutory standard.

How to Verify an Electrician's Licence

Before any tradesperson touches the electrical wiring in your rental property, verify their licence:

1. Go to the Verify NSW Public Register or Service NSW Licence Check (search "Check a builder or tradesperson licence" on the Service NSW website)
2. Enter the tradesperson's licence or certificate number, or their name
3. Confirm the licence is current, the category matches the work (Electrician, not just General Building), and there are no conditions or suspensions

This takes two minutes. Industry association logos (Master Electricians, NECA) are not proof that the person is authorised for the work — verify a current NSW licence or certificate in the relevant category.

The same process works for plumbers and gasfitters, using the relevant licence categories. Building certifiers have a separate Building Certifiers Public Register.

DIY Electrical Work Is Illegal

This cannot be overstated: electrical wiring work must be done by, or under the supervision of, a licensed electrician. If you are not properly licensed or certified to do it yourself, do not attempt DIY wiring. Electrical wiring, plumbing, and gasfitting require the relevant licence or certificate regardless of cost. For plumbing and gasfitting, a tradesperson certificate holder must work under general supervision, and a person with no licence or certificate must work under immediate supervision.

A common misconception is that residential work under $5,000 does not require licensing. That threshold applies to general building work only — specialist trades including electrical, plumbing, and gasfitting require the relevant licence or certificate regardless of the job's value.

Gasfitter Licence Checks

The same rules apply to gas work. If your property has a gas cooktop, gas hot water system, or gas heater, gasfitting work requires the relevant licence or certificate regardless of cost. Verify the gasfitter's authority on Service NSW before work starts.

Gas appliances in rental properties must have unobstructed flues and ventilation openings to prevent carbon monoxide accumulation. While carbon monoxide detectors are not yet mandatory in NSW private rentals, placing one near fuel-burning appliances is a sensible precaution.

Keep Your Records

For every piece of electrical or gas work on the property:

• Keep the CCEW or gas compliance certificate
• Keep the trade tax invoice showing the licence number
• Store copies digitally — paper gets lost during agency transitions

The Rental Minimum Standards in New South Wales guide includes a printable Trade Licence and Certificate Log for tracking every trade engagement, licence verification, and certificate filing across the life of the tenancy.

See more New South Wales guides →