Tasmania Rental Heating Requirements: What Landlords Must Provide

Tasmania's winters are severe enough that the state legislated a specific heating standard into tenancy law. Section 36M of the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 requires every rental property to have a fixed heater in the main living area before a tenant moves in. A portable oil column heater plugged into the wall does not count, and an open fireplace does not qualify unless the Commissioner has approved it for the premises.

What "Fixed" Actually Means

The heater must be wall-mounted, floor-fixed or built into the building. It does not have to be hard-wired. That rules out any appliance that can be unplugged and carried to another room.

Heaters that satisfy section 36M:

• Fixed electric space heaters (panel heaters, wall-mounted or floor-fixed convection heaters)
• Reverse-cycle heat pumps (split systems or ducted)
• Fixed gas heaters installed as fixtures
• Slow-combustion wood heaters (enclosed firebox, flue-connected)

Heaters that do not qualify:

• Portable fan heaters, oil column heaters or bar radiators — even if the landlord supplies them
• Open fireplaces, even heritage ones, unless the Commissioner has approved them for the premises under section 36M — an unapproved open fire cannot be the sole or primary heating source

Why Open Fireplaces Usually Do Not Qualify

An open fireplace does not normally meet the heating standard. The Commissioner may approve one for specified premises under section 36M; otherwise, if the property has an open fireplace and nothing else, install a qualifying fixed heater before listing. Sealing the fireplace opening also addresses the weatherproofing standard under section 36I, which catches draughts from unsealed disused flues.

Heat Pumps: The Most Common Upgrade Path

A reverse-cycle split system is the most practical choice for most Tasmanian rentals. It satisfies the heating requirement and also provides summer cooling. Installation must be carried out by a licensed electrician, and the Certificate of Electrical Compliance (CEC) should be filed with TechSafe Australia and kept in your compliance records for 10 years.

A heat pump's capacity should match the room size. An undersized unit that cannot generate reasonable heat for the living area's dimensions can still fail the operational performance test — the heater must deliver heat "to a level reasonable for the physical dimensions of the living space."

What Happens if the Heater Fails Mid-Tenancy

A broken living-area heater is classified as an essential services failure under section 3(1) of the Act. You must arrange repair as soon as practicable. If you cannot be reached or have not arranged a repair within 24 hours, the tenant may authorize a suitable repairer to restore the service and seek reimbursement for the allowed cost. Tasmania has no fixed dollar cap on tenant-arranged urgent repairs, unlike Victoria ($2,500) or NSW ($1,000).

The Penalty for Non-Compliance

Failing to provide a fixed heater before letting is an offence under Part 3B, carrying a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units — $10,650 at the current FY 2026–27 rate of $213 per unit. The tenant can also serve a 14-day notice to terminate the lease.

Heating is one of the seven minimum standards that the Rental Minimum Standards in Tasmania compliance guide covers in detail, including a pre-winter audit checklist that maps every thermal obligation — heater, window coverings, draught sealing and ventilation — into a single walkthrough.

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