Selling or Leasing · Licence EC9674
Electrical Safety Check Before Selling Your House in Perth
An electrical safety check before selling your house in Perth answers two questions: does the property have the RCDs WA law requires, and are the smoke alarms compliant? Glen checks both in one visit and gives you a fixed price in writing for anything that falls short, so nothing electrical holds up settlement.
What WA Law Requires Before You Sell
Two things, and settlement agents check for both:
- Two RCDs. WA's Electricity Regulations require a minimum of two RCDs (safety switches) protecting the power and lighting circuits when a property is sold or leased. Penalties apply if the title transfers without them.
- Compliant smoke alarms. Hardwired smoke alarms no more than 10 years old are required at sale or transfer, and for rentals.
Sources: WA Government, Building and Energy: RCD requirements and smoke alarm laws for homes being sold, rented and hired.
Plenty of older northern-suburbs homes miss one or both: a single RCD covering only the power points, or battery smoke alarms that were fine when fitted and aren't now.
What the Check Covers
One visit, during business hours, at your convenience:
- RCD count, and whether power and lighting circuits are actually protected
- Smoke alarm type, position and age
- Board condition: whether it can safely take RCDs at all
Then you get a straight answer. If the property already complies, you'll be told exactly that. If it doesn't, you get one fixed price in writing for the work needed.
WA compliance
The RCD and smoke alarm obligations sit with the seller or lessor, not the buyer or tenant. Settlement agents check for both, and the penalties apply to individuals.
The Fix, Done in One Booking
RCD installation and hardwired smoke alarms are usually sorted in a single visit. If the board is an old ceramic-fuse unit that can't safely take RCDs, Glen quotes the switchboard upgrade on the spot; most are done in a day. Licence EC9674 · EW144799, family-owned, 5.0 on Google.
Managing rentals instead of selling? See electrician for property managers in Joondalup and the northern suburbs.
Selling and Compliance Questions
What is the two-RCD rule when selling a house in WA?
Before a property is sold or leased, WA's Electricity Regulations require at least two RCDs protecting its power and lighting circuits. One RCD on the power points alone doesn't satisfy it.
Do smoke alarms have to be hardwired to sell a house in WA?
Yes. Hardwired smoke alarms no more than 10 years old are required at sale or transfer of a WA property, and for rentals.
What happens if the property doesn't comply at settlement?
The obligation sits with the person selling or leasing, and penalties apply. Sorting it before you list is cheaper than sorting it under a settlement deadline.
Can this be done close to settlement?
JEC works Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm. Call early rather than late, and Glen will tell you honestly whether your timeframe works.
What gets checked on a pre-sale electrical safety check?
The two things WA law requires: that at least two RCDs protect all power and lighting circuits, spread correctly across them, and that mains-powered smoke alarms compliant with AS 3786 and under 10 years old are installed where required. Glen tests both, fits what's missing, and leaves you with the paperwork.
How much does electrical compliance for selling cost in Perth?
It depends on what the check finds. Some homes just need testing, others need an RCD or an alarm fitted, and older boards can need more. The visit is $180 + GST including the first 30 minutes, and anything beyond that is a fixed price agreed before the work starts.
Related Pages
RCD & Safety Switches
Meet WA's 2-RCD rules for sale or lease, and stop nuisance tripping.
Learn more →Smoke Alarms
Hardwired smoke alarm installation, replacement and compliance checks.
Learn more →Electrician for Property Managers
Leasing instead of selling? The same rules apply to rentals. One local contact for the whole rent roll.
Learn more →Get Compliant Before Settlement
One visit, a straight answer, and a fixed price in writing for anything that falls short. Prefer to talk? Call Glen on 0438 678 218.
0438 678 218