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Hot Water Cost

No hot water in a rental: a 48-hour checklist

What to do, in order, from the cold shower to getting your money back. With a notice you can copy.

Last checked

Tell the landlord or agent in writing straight away. No hot water is an urgent repair in Victoria and an urgent repair in NSW. If nobody responds, you can book a licensed plumber yourself and claim it back, up to a cap. The rules and limits are set out on our landlord obligations page; this is the practical version.

It usually starts with a cold shower and a rental app nobody checks after five o'clock. Here's the order that keeps you covered.

  1. Hour 0–1

    Check it isn't something simple, then write it down

    • Check the switchboard for a tripped hot water circuit, or the pilot light on a gas unit. Don't open the unit.
    • Take a photo of the system and any leak or error light.
    • Send the notice below by email or through the rental app, and keep a copy.

  2. Hours 1–24

    Give them a real chance to act

    • Ring the agent or landlord as well, and note the time of every call.
    • Victorian rental providers must do urgent repairs immediately. A landlord who books a plumber has done their part, even if a part takes a few days.
    • Ask when the plumber is coming and write the answer down.

  3. Hours 24–48

    No answer? Arrange the repair yourself

    • Check the cap first: a Victorian renter can go ahead if the repair costs no more than $2,500. In NSW, you can be reimbursed up to $1,000.
    • Use a licensed plumber. Check your lease for preferred tradespeople first.
    • Get an itemised invoice with the plumber's licence number on it, and pay in a way that leaves a record.

  4. After the repair

    Claim the money back

    • Send the invoice and receipts with a written request to be repaid.
    • A Victorian rental provider has 7 days to pay. A NSW landlord has 14 days from your notice.
    • If they don't pay, contact your state's tenancy dispute service.

A notice you can copy

Urgent repair notice

To [landlord or agent name],
I'm writing to request an urgent repair at [address]. The hot water system stopped working on [date] at about [time]. [describe what you've noticed, such as no hot water at any tap, a leaking tank or an error light] A photo is attached.

A failed hot water service is an urgent repair. Please arrange for a licensed plumber to attend as soon as possible and let me know when they'll come. If I can't reach you, I may arrange the repair myself as the tenancy laws allow, and I'll send you the invoice for repayment.

Thank you,
[your name], [phone]

Replace everything in square brackets before you send it. It's a starting point, not legal advice.

Repair or replacement?

A failed element or thermostat is often a same-day fix. A rusted-through tank means a new system, and that's the landlord's call because it's their appliance. The new one has to meet current rules, including storing water above 60 °C. In Victoria, from 1 March 2027, a rental hot water appliance that can't be repaired is replaced with a heat pump water heater.

Your paper trail, in one list

  1. The written notice, with date and photo.
  2. Any reply, or your call log if there wasn't one.
  3. The plumber's itemised invoice.
  4. Your written claim, with receipts attached.

This is general information about Victoria and New South Wales, not legal advice. Other states and territories have their own urgent repair rules and limits, so check with your local tenancy authority before you spend anything.