Slip resistance testing is commonly associated with commercial buildings, shopping centres and construction handovers. But rental properties — both residential and commercial — also carry compliance and duty of care obligations that landlords and property managers can't afford to ignore.

The Short Answer

Once a residential property is tenanted, it is treated similarly to a commercial property under Australian work health and safety and tort law. Landlords have a duty of care to ensure the property is reasonably safe for occupants. Slippery floors — particularly in bathrooms, kitchens, pool areas, and entry points — are a documented liability risk.

Which Areas Are Highest Risk?

In a typical residential rental property, the highest-risk areas for slip incidents are:

  • Bathrooms and ensuites — wet tiles, smooth surfaces, post-cleaning residue
  • Kitchens — spills, cooking oils, vinyl and tile surfaces
  • External entry areas — rain ingress, polished concrete, smooth pavers
  • Pool surrounds and outdoor entertaining areas — constantly wet surfaces
  • Stairs — particularly external stairs or those with polished timber or tile treads

What Does the Law Say?

Australian tort law imposes a duty of care on property owners to maintain premises in a reasonably safe condition. If a tenant or visitor slips and falls due to a surface that fails to meet the relevant Australian Standard for its location, the landlord or property manager can be found liable.

This is not a theoretical risk. Slip and fall claims are among the most common personal injury matters in Australian civil courts. A NATA-certified slip resistance test report — showing that surfaces were tested and met required standards — is one of the most effective pieces of evidence a landlord can hold to defend against a claim.

Commercial Rental Properties

If you own or manage a commercial rental property — offices, retail, industrial — slip resistance compliance is more clearly defined. The National Construction Code requires that public and common areas meet minimum slip resistance classifications, and this obligation persists through the building's life, not just at handover.

Facility managers and commercial landlords should have a routine slip testing program covering all public areas, wet areas, and any surface that has been cleaned, treated, refinished or exposed to heavy wear since the last test.

What Should Landlords and Property Managers Do?

  • Test high-risk areas — bathrooms, kitchens, pool surrounds, entry areas — before a new tenancy begins or after renovation
  • Retest after any floor cleaning treatment, coating, or refinishing — products can significantly alter slip resistance
  • Keep NATA-certified test reports on file — they are your evidence of due diligence
  • Act on failing results promptly — document the finding, arrange remediation, and retest
  • Include slip resistance checks in routine property condition reports

The cost of a NATA-certified slip resistance test is modest compared to the cost of a single personal injury claim. Sliptest Australia provides fast, affordable testing nationally — contact us for a free quote. We service Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and all states.

Frequently Asked Questions

While slip testing is not always legally mandated for residential rentals, landlords have a duty of care under Australian tort law to ensure premises are reasonably safe. NATA-certified slip test reports provide documented evidence of due diligence and are the most effective defence against slip and fall claims.

The highest-risk areas are bathrooms and ensuites, kitchens, external entry areas, pool surrounds, and stairs — particularly those with smooth or polished surfaces.

Yes. The National Construction Code requires that public and common areas of commercial buildings meet minimum slip resistance classifications. This obligation applies throughout the building's life, not just at handover.