Victorian Rental Draught Proofing Standards 2027: A Landlord Guide
Victorian rental draught proofing standards: what landlords must do by 1 July 2027
From 1 July 2027, external doors, windows and wall vents in Victorian rental homes must have draught proofing installed. This applies to every rental home, not just properties starting a new lease. This page covers what the standard actually requires and what it costs to get a property compliant, with the kits that do each job.
What the new standard requires
The Victorian Government's new rental energy efficiency standards phase in between 2025 and 2030. The draught proofing standard is the one that touches every window and external door in the state's rental stock. The government's own wording is short: external doors, windows and wall vents must have draught proofing installed.
| Date | Standard | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March 2027 | Ceiling insulation (where none is present, fitted by an accredited installer), 4-star showerheads, cooling in the main living area | New leases |
| 1 March 2027 | Heating and hot water systems that reach end of life must be replaced with efficient electric systems | All rentals |
| 1 July 2027 | Draught proofing on external doors, windows and wall vents | All rentals |
| 1 July 2030 | Efficient electric cooling in the main living area | All rentals |
Source: energy.vic.gov.au, energy efficiency for rental properties in Victoria. Always check the current government guidance before relying on it, the detail can change as regulations are finalised.
Why the July 2027 date matters more than the March one
Most of the March 2027 standards trigger when a new lease starts. Draught proofing is different. From 1 July 2027 it applies to rental homes regardless of whether the tenancy has changed. A landlord with a long-term tenant in place cannot wait for turnover. If you hold several properties, the practical move is to book the work property by property through 2026 rather than joining the rush in the winter of 2027.
What draught proofing actually involves
Draught proofing is not stick-on foam tape. On the windows most Victorian rentals have, it means fitted seals that survive tenants opening and closing the window for years.
Double hung (sash) windows leak at four points: under the bottom sash, at the meeting rail, over the top sash, and along both side channels. Proper sealing means brush seals carried in the beads themselves, so the window still slides. This is exactly what our Draught Sealing Kit for double hung windows does. It is the same system our installation crews at Sealasash have fitted to over 25,000 wooden windows across Australia, boxed with a full 10 minute installation video.
Casement and awning windows close against a frame, so they take a compression seal in a routed groove or a surface-fitted perimeter seal.
External doors need two things: a perimeter seal around the head and stiles, and a brush or threshold seal at the bottom.
Wall vents in habitable rooms can be fitted with sealed or closable vent covers, subject to the gas appliance rule above.
A landlord's shopping list
Draught Sealing Kit, Double Hung
The professional system: primed beads with carried brush seals, meeting rail seal, new cord. One kit does one window.
Casement & Awning Draught Seal Kit
Compression sealing for hinged sashes that close against the frame.
Single Wooden Door Draught Seal Kit
Perimeter and bottom sealing for one door. Premium version for doors that get heavy weather.
Compression Seal Rolls
For handymen doing several properties: seal by the roll, from 1m to 100m. Order a free sample first to match your groove.
DIY, handyman, or professional
The published wording for ceiling insulation names accredited installers. The draught proofing wording does not, so as the guidance stands a competent DIYer or your regular handyman can do the work. Every kit above ships with instructions, and the double hung kit page carries the full 10 minute video of a professional doing the job end to end. If you would rather not touch the windows at all, our installation arm Sealasash does this for a living.
Keep the paper trail
Minimum standards are enforceable under the Residential Tenancies Act, and a renter can challenge a non-compliant property. Keep the invoice for the kits and photograph the seals once fitted. For a portfolio, a dated one-line-per-property record is enough to show a property manager or VCAT that the work happened and when.
Frequently asked questions
Does the draught proofing standard apply to existing tenancies?
Yes. From 1 July 2027 it applies to Victorian rental homes whether or not a new lease has been signed. This is different from the insulation and showerhead standards, which trigger at the start of a new lease from 1 March 2027.
What exactly has to be draught proofed?
External doors, windows and wall vents. Internal doors are not part of the standard.
My rental has a gas heater. Do I still seal everything?
No. There is an exception where open-flued or flueless gas appliances are present, because they need fixed ventilation to run safely. Have the ventilation checked before sealing, and never seal a vent a gas appliance relies on.
Do I need a licensed installer?
The published guidance requires accredited installers for ceiling insulation but does not say the same for draught proofing. A competent DIYer or handyman can fit the seals. Check the final regulations closer to the date in case the detail changes.
What does it cost to make one property compliant?
A typical single-fronted rental with four double hung windows and two external doors runs roughly $1,200 to $1,600 in materials using the kits above, less per property when buying window kits in packs of 4 or 10. Labour is on top if you are not doing it yourself.
Is stick-on foam tape enough to comply?
The standard says draught proofing must be installed, and does not yet publish a performance test. But foam tape on a sliding sash window peels and drags within months, which is why no professional uses it. Fitted brush and compression seals are the difference between doing the job once and doing it every winter.
Sealing more than one property?
The double hung kit comes in 4-packs and 10-packs at a lower per-window rate. If you manage a portfolio and want a materials quote across all of it, email us the window and door count.
Start with the double hung kitThis page is general information for Victorian rental providers, not legal advice. Requirements are set by the Victorian Government and enforced under the Residential Tenancies Act. Check energy.vic.gov.au and Consumer Affairs Victoria for the current detail.