Mentone at a glance, for electrical work
Units and townhouses
At the 2021 Census, 37.2% of Mentone's occupied homes were semi-detached, row, terrace or townhouses, 18.2% were flats or apartments and 44.0% were separate houses.
One home in three rented
1,816 homes (32.2%) were rented, slightly more than were owned outright. Victoria's rental electrical and smoke alarm rules apply to all of them.
From boom township to 1950s blocks
Mentone's post office opened on 16 May 1884, and the township was laid out with large houses. Market gardens and farms on its edges were subdivided for housing in the 1950s.
United Energy country
United Energy supplies Mentone and has a Mentone zone substation. For outages and fallen lines, call 13 20 99.
What a Mentone rental needs, electrically
- An electrical safety check by a licensed or registered electrician every 2 years, to section 4 of AS/NZS 3019. From 13 October 2026 this covers all rentals.
- Circuit breakers and safety switches on the power outlet and lighting circuits (the standard since 29 March 2023).
- An annual smoke alarm safety check, required for all rental agreements from 25 November 2025.
- Faulty smoke alarms fixed straight away, as an urgent repair. Hardwired ones are replaced by an electrician.
- A record of the last electrical check, given to the renter within 7 days if they ask in writing.
Working on a unit, not a house
In a block of units, the meters are often grouped in one spot and each unit has its own small board. Anything on the shared side, like the main supply, the meter panel or a common car park, usually needs the owners corporation's say.
That matters most for EV chargers. A charger in your own carport running off your own board is a simple job. One in a shared car park or fed from the common supply needs agreement first. On United Energy's network, home chargers are registered as load-only connections.
Our advice for Mentone landlords and owners
If you own a unit you rent out, we'd book the electrical check and the smoke alarm check on the same visit each time they fall due. One electrician, one report, and you know the place meets the standard before the next renter signs.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.