What is a plumbing compliance certificate?

A certificate a licensed plumber issues after notifiable plumbing work, confirming it meets Australian Standards and Victorian regulations. It is lodged with the water authority and a copy goes to the owner.

When is a compliance certificate required?

For notifiable work — for example hot water system installs, backflow prevention devices, new sanitary fixtures and certain gas appliance work. A simple drain clear isn't notifiable.

What makes a report acceptable at VCAT?

An independent, methodical report from a licensed plumber, with evidence such as CCTV or acoustic findings, that sets out the fault, its cause and the standards applied.

What documentation do strata and property managers need?

Compliance certificates, VCAT-grade inspection reports, body-corporate maintenance records and gas safety records — produced correctly by a licensed plumber and kept on file.

Compliance Certificates, VCAT Reports & Strata Documentation: What Property Managers Need from a Plumber

Christopher Unwin
May 2
4 min read

Updated May 2026 — Around The Clock Plumbing Pty Ltd, Oakleigh South.

Property managers, landlords, bodies corporate and strata committees have documentation requirements that go beyond what a standard plumber's invoice provides. Compliance certificates, VCAT-grade inspection reports, body corporate maintenance records, and gas safety compliance documents all require a licensed plumber who understands what's needed and can produce it correctly. This guide covers the documentation types, when they're required, and what a licensed plumber must provide to make them valid.

Compliance Certificates: What They Are and When You Need One

A Compliance Certificate (formerly Certificate of Compliance — Plumbing) is issued by a licensed plumber after completing notifiable plumbing work under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2014. It confirms the work was performed by a licensed plumber and complies with the relevant Australian Standards and Victorian regulations. It is lodged with the relevant water authority and a copy must be provided to the property owner.

Notifiable work includes: installation or replacement of hot water systems, installation of backflow prevention devices, installation of new sanitary plumbing fixtures, and certain gas appliance installations. Not all plumbing work is notifiable — a blocked drain clear is not — but any significant installation that changes the property's plumbing configuration typically is. Property managers should confirm with their plumber whether the work performed requires a Compliance Certificate before the job is complete.

Gas Safety Compliance for Rental Properties

Victorian tenancy law requires landlords to ensure gas heaters in rental properties are serviced every two years by a licensed Type A gas fitter, with a record of the service kept and available to the tenant on request. This is not optional — it is a legal obligation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 and the associated Minimum Standards regulations that came into force from March 2021.

ATC Plumbing provides written service records after every gas heater inspection — including the date of service, the licence details of the attending gas fitter (BPC #50694, Type A, Christopher Unwin), the heater make, model and age, the tests performed including heat exchanger integrity test results, and any recommendations or faults found. This record satisfies the tenancy regulation requirement and is suitable for property management file keeping.

VCAT-Grade Plumbing Inspection Reports

When a plumbing dispute reaches VCAT — whether a landlord-tenant dispute, an owner-builder matter, or a body corporate claim — the tribunal requires documentation that meets a higher standard than a standard job invoice. A VCAT-grade plumbing report needs to be prepared by a licensed plumber, identify the plumber's licence details, describe the property and the plumbing system inspected, detail findings with specific reference to the relevant Australian Standards or regulations, and include clear recommendations.

In March 2026 we prepared a VCAT-grade body corporate plumbing inspection report for a strata property in Bentleigh. The report documented the condition of common-area plumbing infrastructure, identified non-compliant works, and provided recommendations with regulatory references sufficient for the body corporate to present as evidence in a VCAT dispute. This type of report requires an independent inspection — we don't prepare VCAT reports for work we've carried out ourselves.

Body Corporate and Strata Documentation

Bodies corporate managing multi-lot developments have ongoing obligations to maintain common property plumbing — including shared drain lines, roof drainage, hot water systems serving multiple lots, and fire services. ATC Plumbing provides written job reports for all strata maintenance work, formatted to meet the record-keeping requirements of strata managers including MBCM, Ace Body Corp, Civium, and Strata Consultants — all existing clients. Reports include: date, licence details, property and lot identification, work performed, materials used, and any further recommendations.

Fast arrival → accurate diagnosis → permanent fix applies to strata work just as to residential: we don't clear a common drain and leave without telling the strata manager whether a recurring problem is likely. Written documentation of the finding and the recommendation is part of the service.

What Unlicensed Plumbing Work Means for Documentation

A Compliance Certificate can only be issued by a licensed plumber. A VCAT report has no standing if it comes from an unlicensed person. A gas safety record is only valid if the service was performed by a licensed Type A gas fitter. If work on your property was performed by an unlicensed person — even competently — none of the above documentation can be produced retrospectively. For property managers and bodies corporate, this creates an audit and liability gap that can only be resolved by having the work inspected and certified by a licensed plumber.

Common Questions About Plumbing Compliance Documentation

Does every plumbing job require a Compliance Certificate?

No — only notifiable work requires a Compliance Certificate. Maintenance and repair work (unblocking drains, replacing tap washers, repairing leaking joints) is not typically notifiable. Installation of new fixtures, hot water systems, and gas appliances generally is. Confirm with your plumber before the job.

How often does a rental property's gas heater need to be serviced?

Every two years as a minimum under Victorian tenancy law, by a licensed Type A gas fitter, with a written record kept. Annually is recommended for heaters over 10 years old or those used as primary heating.

Can ATC Plumbing prepare a plumbing report for a VCAT dispute?

Yes — we prepare independent plumbing inspection reports suitable for VCAT proceedings. These are prepared as independent inspections and clearly identify the attending licensed plumber, licence details, findings, regulatory references, and recommendations. We do not prepare VCAT reports for work we have carried out ourselves.

Do you work with strata managers and property managers across Melbourne?

Yes — existing strata clients include MBCM, Ace Body Corp, Civium, and Strata Consultants. We provide written reports formatted to strata management record-keeping requirements, are available for scheduled maintenance programs, and respond to emergency callouts 24/7.

Written and reviewed by Christopher Unwin — founder, Around The Clock Plumbing Pty Ltd, Oakleigh South. BPC Licence #50694, Type A gas, 22 years' experience. National Council member, Master Plumbers Australia & New Zealand.