Rental Property Compliance in Australia: Comparing Software and Safety Check Providers

Rental property compliance is about more than booking the next smoke alarm check. For Australian landlords and property managers, it means knowing which rules apply, arranging the right trades, keeping good records and making sure any problems are followed up.

There is no single compliance system that suits every property. Some businesses carry out inspections and provide an online portal. Others offer a regular service plan. Property management software can also help organise the jobs, approvals and paperwork around those checks.

We looked at the publicly advertised services of CheckHero, Detector Inspector, Taskforce, Property Compliance Australia and RiskyMate to explain the differences. This is a practical guide, not a ranking.

Why rental property compliance matters across Australia

Rental property laws vary between states. A system that works well for a Victorian rent roll may not cover everything needed for a property in NSW or Queensland.

Victoria: safety checks and evidence

From 13 October 2026, Victoria’s two-yearly gas and electrical safety check obligations apply to all rental properties, including existing rental agreements. Gas checks depend on whether the property has relevant gas installations. The checks must be completed by appropriately qualified tradespeople.

Victorian rental providers also need records sufficient to show a property met the rental minimum standards when it was advertised or offered for rent. That makes the paperwork around a property just as important to organise as the inspection itself.

Official guidance: Consumer Affairs Victoria rental law changes and gas and electrical safety requirements.

NSW: smoke alarm responsibilities

In NSW, landlords must make sure smoke alarms are working, arrange annual checks and meet the rules for batteries, replacements and repairs. For example, a faulty smoke alarm generally needs to be repaired or replaced within two business days after the landlord becomes aware of the problem.

Official guidance: NSW Fair Trading smoke alarm rules.

Queensland: interconnected smoke alarms

Queensland rental homes have been required to meet the interconnected photoelectric smoke alarm rules since 1 January 2022. The wider 1 January 2027 deadline covers remaining existing homes. Rental property owners also have testing and cleaning responsibilities when a tenancy starts.

Official guidance: Queensland Fire Department smoke alarm requirements.

Whatever state a property is in, the practical challenge is similar: know what is due, arrange the work, follow up any repairs and keep evidence that can be found when needed.

Compliance software and safety check services are not the same thing

A safety check provider can arrange qualified technicians to inspect a property, produce reports and, depending on the service, carry out repairs.

Compliance management software helps the agency or owner keep track of requirements, work orders, bookings, approvals, certificates, costs and the next due date.

Some businesses combine these approaches. Neither model is automatically better. The right choice depends on whether you want an inspection provider to manage the whole visit or a system that works with your chosen trades.

Comparing Australian rental compliance providers

CheckHero: inspections supported by an agency portal

CheckHero combines Victorian rental safety checks with an online portal for property managers. Its published features include compliance reminders, bookings, renter coordination, digital certificates and integration with PropertyMe and Property Tree.

That approach may suit an agency wanting a provider to arrange checks and keep the associated service records in one place.

For a price example, CheckHero advertises a bundle covering smoke alarm, electrical and gas safety checks for $399 plus GST. Other inspection options are listed separately. The portal itself is advertised as free for agencies.

Source: CheckHero safety check information and prices.

Detector Inspector: ongoing safety-check plans

Detector Inspector provides safety services and offers its Victorian Safer Home plan over a two-year compliance cycle. This can suit owners who prefer to spread the cost of scheduled checks over annual payments rather than organise each service separately.

Its advertised annual prices, excluding GST, are $239 for smoke alarm and electrical checks where there are no gas appliances, $349 where there is one gas appliance, and $429 where there are two or more. Each amount is charged annually for the two-year plan. The number and type of included services, urgent callout benefits, renewal arrangements and exclusions should be checked before enrolling.

Source: Detector Inspector Safer Home plan and terms.

Taskforce: safety checks with two repair options

Taskforce provides rental safety checks and related trade services. Its published Victorian packages give owners a choice between a lower upfront inspection cost and a package that includes specified minor repairs.

Taskforce Saver is advertised at $399 plus GST for gas, electrical and smoke alarm checks, with eligible onsite repairs charged at agreed rates. Taskforce Plus is $540 plus GST for the same three checks, with specified eligible onsite repairs included in the package price.

This may appeal to owners and property managers who want an inspection provider to handle common fixes during the visit. The repair inclusions are specific, so work outside the listed items can cost extra.

Source: Taskforce Saver and Plus packages.

Property Compliance Australia: smoke alarm services and software connections

Property Compliance Australia focuses on smoke alarm installation, servicing and related safety services. It advertises property manager tools that connect with PropertyMe, Property Tree and Reapit PM, including automated job creation, reminders and digital compliance records.

Its website lists service areas across Queensland, NSW, the ACT and South Australia. The business may suit agencies looking for a smoke alarm specialist that can work alongside their existing property management software.

For agencies and larger portfolios, pricing is provided through a tailored proposal. Its website also advertises a $139 photographic compliance certificate for a property that already meets the relevant smoke alarm requirements. That specific certificate price is not the same as a complete installation or ongoing service plan.

Sources: PCA services and integrations and PCA pricing FAQ.

RiskyMate: managing compliance and property jobs with your own trades

RiskyMate takes a software-first approach for rental properties in Victoria and NSW. It connects property records, work orders, due dates, approvals, bookings and supporting evidence. Agencies, rental providers, contractors and renters see the parts of a job relevant to them.

Rather than supplying the actual inspection, RiskyMate is designed to help owners and agencies organise checks using suitable contractors, including trades they already work with. Reports, photos, certificates and follow-up actions stay linked to the property record. Its tradie tools and free Australia-wide trade network are part of RiskyMate, not a separate compliance product.

This approach may suit a property manager who wants to oversee compliance and general maintenance together, or a self-managed owner wanting to keep their own records and choose their trades.

RiskyMate’s published price for self-managed owners is $5 per active property per month, or $60 per year. Agencies are advertised as free until 31 January 2027, then $2 per active property per month from 1 February 2027. The core trade network is free. Inspection and repair charges are separate from the software subscription.

Sources: How RiskyMate works and RiskyMate pricing.

How do you compare the costs fairly?

The advertised prices above do not buy the same thing. Some are per-property software subscriptions. Others cover a single group of inspections or annual instalments under a two-year service plan. Some include certain repairs; others charge separately for them.

Before choosing, check whether the quote includes GST, inspections, follow-up visits, any repair work, access coordination, certificates and support. It is also worth checking your property’s state, gas appliance count and whether the service operates in your area.

A low software fee does not mean inspection work is included. Equally, a bundled inspection price does not necessarily provide a broader system for managing all maintenance jobs.

What should a good compliance process cover?

Regardless of which provider you use, a sensible process should help you:

• Keep the correct requirements and next due dates against each property.
• Book appropriately qualified trades and record who is responsible for the next step.
• Notify renters and organise lawful access for inspections.
• Keep reports, certificates, photos, quotes and approvals together.
• Follow up failed checks and recommended repairs rather than treating the inspection as the end of the job.
• Retain the evidence needed for your state and the next compliance cycle.

The technology should make those tasks easier, but the people responsible still need to check the rules, authorise the work and act on any safety problems.

Which option is right for your rental property?

If you want a business to organise and perform the checks, a service-led provider such as CheckHero, Detector Inspector, Taskforce or Property Compliance Australia may be a good place to start. Their coverage, inspection packages and specialities differ.

If you want to manage several kinds of property work with your chosen contractors, a workflow platform such as RiskyMate may be more suitable.

There is also room for both approaches. A property manager may use specialist inspection businesses to complete the safety work while using their own property records and workflows to oversee the broader portfolio.

The important thing is not picking the platform with the longest feature list. It is having a reliable way to know what needs doing, who is doing it, what it costs and where the evidence is kept.

Frequently asked questions

Does compliance software make a property compliant?

No. Software can help track deadlines, jobs and documents, but it cannot replace required inspections, repairs or the legal responsibilities of rental providers and property managers.

Is a safety inspection plan the same as a compliance software subscription?

No. An inspection plan generally pays for specified service visits over a set period. A software subscription generally pays for access to tools that organise jobs, records and communication. Check the provider’s inclusions before comparing prices.

Are rental property compliance laws the same throughout Australia?

No. Rules and inspection requirements differ by state and sometimes by the property itself. Always use the relevant state government’s current guidance.

About this comparison

This article was prepared by RiskyMate, which is one of the businesses discussed. It is an informational comparison of publicly advertised services, not an independent third-party audit or endorsement of any provider.

Prices are in Australian dollars and were checked on 3 November 2026. GST treatment and inclusions are explained where advertised. Services, eligibility, coverage and pricing can change, so confirm the latest details directly with each business.

This article is general information only, not legal or professional compliance advice.