Select one of the options below that best suits your renting situation.
Help for First Nations renters
A list of services that can help first nations renters.
Do you need urgent help?
- If you are in immediate danger, call 000(opens in a new window)
- If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness call 1800 825 955(opens in a new window) (free call, 24 hours)
- If you are experiencing personal distress and require crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14(opens in a new window) (free call, 24 hours)
- If you are escaping family violence call Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre on 1800 015 188(opens in a new window) (free call, 24 hours)
- If you would like confidential counselling for sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732(opens in a new window) (free call, 24 hours)
What other help do you need?
Consumer Affairs Victoria
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) provides information and advice to renters, rental providers and property managers about renting rights and responsibilities in a property (includes rooming houses), caravan park and residential park, such as:
- types of rental agreements
- beginning, during and ending a lease or tenancy
- repairs and maintenance
- resolving disputes
- explanation of Victorian renting laws
Phone: 1300 55 81 81(opens in a new window)
Website: consumer.vic.gov.au/renting(opens in a new window)
Renting forms and publications: consumer.vic.gov.au/forms(opens in a new window)To make a residential accommodation complaint or if you believe there is evidence of non-compliance with Victorian renting laws, use the General complaint form(opens in a new window)
Tenants Victoria
Provides information, confidential advice, assistance and advocacy for renters. Tenants Victoria does not give advice about disputes between co-tenants.
Phone: 9416 2577(opens in a new window)
Website: tenantsvic.org.au(opens in a new window)Victoria Legal Aid
Provides free legal information and education and legal services such as advice and representation for people who meet eligibility criteria, based on their financial situation, the nature and seriousness of their problem and their individual circumstances.
Phone: 1300 792 387(opens in a new window)
Website: legalaid.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)Federation of Community Legal Centres
Provides contact details for the community centres across Victoria that provide free legal services to the public. Community legal centres focus on helping people who face economic and social disadvantage and who are ineligible for legal aid and cannot afford a private lawyer. Community legal centres provide:
- legal information
- initial advice
- and in some cases ongoing assistance.
Phone: 9652 1500(opens in a new window)
Website: fclc.org.au(opens in a new window)Justice Connect
As well as the services above, if you have missed a rent payment, Justice Connect's free online tools can help you to stay housed.
Designed for private renters in Victoria, their self-help tools will support you to understand the eviction process, your rights and your options.
Visit the Justice Connect website(opens in a new window) for more information.
Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program
Through its Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program (TAAP), Consumer Affairs Victoria funds community agencies to help financially disadvantaged renters with issues arising under a private rental agreement, to avoid homelessness. TAAP is also available to people experiencing family violence regardless of their financial circumstances.
To be eligible for ongoing assistance from a TAAP local service you must be:
- experiencing family violence
OR
- on a Centrelink benefit
- with no income
- with insufficient income to sustain personal financial commitments
- who have defaulted on paying rent, utility bills or other personal debts
Phone: 1800 825 955(opens in a new window)
Website: consumer.vic.gov.au/TAAP(opens in a new window)Anika Legal
As well as the services above, there is a free legal service that negotiates with rental providers or agents to help renters who need their homes repaired.
Visit the Anika Legal website(opens in a new window) for more information.
Housing for the Aged Action Group
Specialises in the housing needs of older people. Engages and works with older people through community activism, services and advocacy to achieve social change and housing justice.
Phone: 1300 765 178(opens in a new window)
Website: oldertenants.org.au(opens in a new window)Seniors Information Victoria
Provides free information via a volunteer-run phone line, about housing options for older people.
Phone: 1300 135 090(opens in a new window)
Website: cotavic.org.au(opens in a new window)Housing Vic
Housing Vic is a one-stop shop website to help Victorians explore housing options specific to your situation, including submit applications for private rental assistance, social housing and public housing.
Visit the Housing website(opens in a new window) for more information.
Homelessness support
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) funds a number of community agencies to provide short-to-medium term housing support. Please visit the DFFH website to find the homelessness support agency in your area.
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission offers a free, fair and timely dispute resolution service, with the aim of achieving a mutual agreement. The Commission helps resolve complaints about discrimination including:
- discrimination based on age
- sexual harassment
- victimisation
- and racial or religious vilification.
Phone: 1300 292 153(opens in a new window)
Email: legal@veohrc.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)
Website: humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV)
RDRV is a convenient service that helps renters (tenants) and rental providers (landlords) to resolve disputes, so that common problems don't escalate into a conflict or a time-consuming and possibly expensive, hearing. RDRV can give you information, seek a resolution from the other party, and guide you through the process so you can get a fair outcome.
Phone: 1300 017 378(opens in a new window)
Website: Contact RDRV(opens in a new window)Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Residential Tenancies List) hears disputes between rental providers and renters. The Residential Tenancies List can order rental providers or renters to take action such as to make repairs or pay money. The Residential Tenancies List can also issue orders to renters and rental providers to cease an action, such as causing a nuisance. The Residential Tenancies List can also make orders about bonds or compensation.
The Residential Tenancies List is not a court, but it is able to make decisions that can be legally enforced. It is intended to be informal and accessible, and to resolve disputes quickly and fairly.
Phone: 1300 018 228(opens in a new window)
Website: vcat.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)Dispute Settlement Victoria
The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria deals with a wide range of dispute types and also offers general advice to help if you are in a dispute. They also provide services for tenant vs tenant disputes. Their services are free and do not need a referral.
Phone: 1300 372 888(opens in a new window)
Website: Dispute Settlement Centre Victoria(opens in a new window)
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