South Australia Rental Heating Requirements

Does South Australia Require Fixed Heating in Rentals?

South Australia doesn't mandate fixed heating in every rental property. That's the short answer, and it catches most landlords off guard — especially those who've read about Victoria's rental heating requirements or New Zealand's Healthy Homes Standards.

The Housing Improvement Regulations 2017 (Part 3) set the minimum housing standards for SA rentals, and those standards don't include a standalone heating requirement. What the regulations do require is that the dwelling be weatherproof, reasonably free from dampness, and adequately ventilated. If your property meets those structural standards, you're not obligated to install a heater.

But here's where it gets practical: if you already provide a heater — a wall-mounted gas unit, a reverse-cycle split system, any fixed appliance — it becomes part of the tenancy agreement. Under Section 68 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1995, you must maintain it in a reasonable state of repair for the life of the tenancy.

When Heating Becomes a Legal Obligation

Three scenarios turn heating from optional to mandatory:

Listed in the lease. If your tenancy agreement lists a heating appliance (even a portable oil heater you left behind), you're on the hook to maintain it. The CBS property inspection sheet records fixtures and appliances at the start of the tenancy, and tenants can use that record to hold you to it.

Part of a Housing Improvement Order. If the Housing Safety Authority issues a Housing Improvement Order under Section 14 of the Housing Improvement Act 2016, it can require work needed to meet prescribed housing standards. Those standards do not create a standalone requirement to install a heater. Non-compliance with an order carries a maximum penalty of $10,000.

Replacement triggers efficiency rules. Under Regulation 19 of the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2025, an electrical appliance covered by the Commonwealth GEMS (Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards) scheme must carry a minimum 3-star energy rating when installed or replaced.

Heating vs Weatherproofing — Where the Standards Actually Bite

SA landlords tend to focus on heating when the real compliance risk sits with weatherproofing. The Housing Improvement Regulations 2017 require:

• Roof, walls and foundations must be weatherproof
• The dwelling must be reasonably free from dampness and mould
• Grounds must be effectively drained
• All rooms, including toilets, bathrooms and laundries, must be adequately lit and ventilated

A property that lets cold air in through gaps under doors, cracked window seals or a failed roof membrane will attract enforcement attention from the Housing Safety Authority long before anyone asks about a heater. The HSA can declare the dwelling substandard and impose rent control under Section 25 of the Housing Improvement Act 2016 until the defects are fixed.

What Other States Require (and Why SA Is Different)

If you own property in multiple states, don't import those rules into SA:

• Victoria mandates a fixed heater in the main living room (rental minimum standards effective March 2021)
• New Zealand requires a fixed heater capable of reaching 18°C in the main living area (Healthy Homes Standards)
• South Australia has no equivalent standalone heating mandate

SA's approach relies instead on the broader structural and habitability framework under the HIR 2017, which requires weatherproofing, adequate ventilation and reasonable freedom from dampness but does not prescribe a heating device.

Practical Steps for Landlords

If you're preparing an SA rental for tenancy:

1. Audit weatherproofing first — check roof, walls, windows, subfloor drainage
2. If you provide a heater, list it on the property inspection sheet and budget for maintenance
3. If you replace an electrical appliance covered by GEMS, confirm the new unit meets the 3-star rating requirement
4. Keep trade eCoCs (Electronic Certificates of Compliance) for any gas or electrical heating work — a licensed gasfitter must issue one for gas heater installations

The SA Rental Minimum Standards Guide walks through each standard with the statutory references and a pre-let inspection checklist, so you can confirm your property meets the Housing Improvement Regulations before a tenant moves in.

See more South Australia guides →