Give the ACT insulation review a clear owner

A compliance deadline is easier to manage when the next step is clear. For ACT agencies, the approaching ceiling-insulation deadline is a useful reason to review the evidence behind each property’s status and give unresolved decisions somewhere to go.

This is preparation for an existing requirement, rather than a newly announced rule. The ceiling-insulation provisions commenced on 1 April 2023. Under section 10 of the Residential Tenancies Regulation 1998, 30 November 2026 is the required date where the first agreement was entered into before 1 April 2023 and the premises are continuously tenanted over the specified transition period, subject to exemptions. Other tenancy histories and exemptions need their own assessment. Do not apply one date automatically across the whole portfolio.

Start with evidence, rather than assumptions

The ACT Government says existing ceiling insulation of at least R2 meets the standard. Homes with no insulation or insulation below R2 need an upgrade to at least R5, unless an exemption applies. Its guidance also explains the evidence that can support compliance or an exemption, and the disclosures required in advertising and tenancy agreements.

For an agency review, separate files with reliable evidence from those still awaiting assessment. An old note saying “insulated” may leave important questions unanswered. Identify the document relied on, who checked it and the next action if something is missing.

Avoid asking a property manager to make a technical assessment outside their expertise. Give them a route to an appropriately qualified professional and a clear person to consult when the legal position is uncertain.

Make the handover practical

Where work is needed, the regulation requires an electrical inspection and relevant electrical work before the insulation work, together with reports and an approved installer. Records supporting an exemption must also be kept.

An agency’s working list can then show:

• The property and the evidence still needed

• The person coordinating the next step

• The owner decision or contractor response awaited

• The confirmed applicable deadline

• The next review date and who will cover an absence

Those are suggested workflow fields, rather than a substitute for the prescribed records. Keep the technical reports and supporting documents with the property file so a colleague can understand the position without reconstructing an email trail.

Support the person coordinating the work

An unresolved owner decision should not become an indefinite reminder sitting with one property manager. Agency leaders can set a regular review of outstanding decisions, agree when senior help is needed and allow time for access arrangements and document checks.

Keep tenants informed about what is proposed, who will attend and how access will be arranged under the applicable requirements. A clear explanation and a reliable contact help make the process easier to follow.

Close the loop

A booking is a useful milestone. Completion needs its own check. Confirm the relevant evidence has arrived, review the file’s recorded status and make sure colleagues know where the final documents are held.

The practical aim is a review another team member can pick up confidently. Clear ownership, supporting evidence and visible next steps are also useful principles when considering how Delegate fits into an agency’s everyday work.

General information for ACT property professionals, checked 19 October 2026 Brisbane. Check the current rules and obtain advice for the individual property where needed. This article deliberately does not set out a universal timetable for later tenancies or temporary exemptions.