Stronger protections open doors to rental homes
We’re opening doors to more rental properties by building more homes, so there will be more properties available for you to rent where you want to live – near the things you need, the lifestyle you lead, and the people you love.
We’re also protecting renters’ rights through a raft of rental initiatives and reforms.
What we’ve done
The renting taskforce and Rental Stress Support Package were announced in March and May 2024 respectively.
Targeting rental breaches through the renting taskforce
Since March 2024, the renting taskforce has been monitoring the market and inspecting properties across the state – to make sure rentals are being advertised fairly, and properties meet the mandatory minimum standards for safety and liveability.
If you see an advertised rental property that doesn’t match its advertising or meet the minimum standards, you can report anonymously through the online form(opens in a new window).
Introduced a Rental Stress Support Package
Victorian households are facing serious renting stress – meaning they’re at risk of being evicted because they can’t afford to pay their rent.
The Rental Stress Support Package(opens in a new window) provides funding to eligible organisations to address the high demand for rental assistance, while we work to boost social, affordable and market housing supply across the state.
Learn more and view successful applicants at Rental Stress Support Package(opens in a new window)
What we’re doing
The Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Bill 2024 passed the Victorian Parliament in March 2025, bringing a raft of reforms.
Regulations are being developed for these new laws, most of which will come into effect in November 2025 and will be enforced by Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Banning all types of rental bidding
Rental providers and real estate agents will be prohibited from encouraging or accepting rental bids (offers of rent higher than the advertised price). Any advertisement or offer of a property for rent must include a fixed price. A price range cannot be used.
Extending notice periods
We’re changing the notice period that rental providers need to give you to receive a notice of rental increase or notice to vacate from 60 to 90 days – giving you more time to budget or move, if you need to.
Learn more about Notice to vacate in rental properties(opens in a new window) and Rent increases(opens in a new window).
Banning no-fault evictions
Rental providers can’t kick you out of your home without a valid reason.
It means ‘no fault’ evictions for fixed-term agreements have been banned, but you can still be evicted for the reasons such as damage, not paying rent or if the owner is moving back in.
You can’t be kicked out just because someone wants to put the home straight back on the market to bump up the rent.
Learn about How evictions work(opens in a new window).
Easier rental applications
Applying for a rental property should be a fast, fair, straightforward process. We’ll standardise rental applications, saving renters time and giving them a clear idea of what they can expect to be asked for during the application process.
Protecting the personal information of renters
Real estate agents will need to ensure they protect the information renters provide in their applications, adhering to privacy requirements around the use, disclosure and collection of information.
More power to stop excessive rent increases
We’ll crack down on excessive rent increases and dodgy rentals by giving more power to Consumer Affairs Victoria and VCAT to stop excessive rent increases.
Mandatory training and licensing for real estate agents, property managers owners corporations managers and conveyancers
Real estate agents, property managers, owners corporations (OC) managers and conveyancers will also be required to undertake ongoing professional development to maintain their registration. These will be staggered throughout 2026 and 2027.
Making sure rentals meet the minimum standards when they’re advertised
Everyone should have access to a home that is safe, healthy and comfortable.
Rental properties must meet the 14 minimum standards(opens in a new window) when they are advertised for rent – not just when the renter picks up the keys.
Learn more at Rental properties – minimum standards(opens in a new window) or view the renting minimum standards checklist(opens in a new window).
Mandatory annual smoke alarm testing
Only working smoke alarms save lives. If you’re renting a house or unit, it is the rental provider’s responsibility to ensure smoke alarms are installed and kept in working condition.
Learn more about Smoke alarms and fire safety(opens in a new window) and Why you need smoke alarms(opens in a new window).
What we’re doing – other reforms
We announced these reforms separately in October and November 2024.
Establishing Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) will provide a one-stop shop for renters, agents and rental providers to resolve tenancy disputes over rent, damages, repairs and bonds. It’ll have a clear pathway to settle issues in a faster, fairer and cheaper way – freeing up VCAT for more serious or complicated matters. RDRV will commence in mid-2025.
Introducing the Portable Rental Bond Scheme
A portable rental bond scheme will allow renters to carry their rental bond from one property straight over to another – rather than having to pay a new bond each time. It’ll ease the financial burden on renters, who won’t have to fork out a substantial amount of money every time they move – or wait until they’ve got their old bond back to pay their new one.
New blind cords standards and heating for rooming houses
In December 2024 we introduced new standards for blind cords for all rentals, and heating requirements for rooming houses – these are the homes of some of our most vulnerable Victorians. One of the changes for rooming houses started on 1 December 2024. The other changes(opens in a new window) mostly start on 1 December 2025.
What’s still to come
We announced these proposed reforms in October 2024. They will be introduced to the Victorian Parliament in stages over the next 12 months, with some before the end of the year.
No bond claims without evidence from rental providers
We’re cancelling the culture of dodgy bond claims by mandating requirements for evidence – and imposing financial penalties for people doing the wrong thing.
You should only be charged when the damage is real – and you deserve to know it’s been properly recorded and costed by someone who knows what they are talking about.
Learn more about Bond claims and refunds(opens in a new window).
Banning fees to pay rent – including via ‘rent tech’ apps
Paying your rent via third party apps can be convenient, but they can also come with hidden fees and charges – which means you pay more than what you owe.
It’s now an offence for a renter to be charged fees by rent tech platforms when making a rental application or for paying their rent.
Whether you’re paying digitally or in person, you should just be paying what you owe.
Banning ‘background check’ fees for rental applications
It’s hard enough to find a good rental property and it isn’t fair if you must pay an extra fee as part of the application process just because the agent or provider wants to check your rental history.
Rental providers, their agents or third-party apps are not allowed to pass these costs on to prospective renters.
If an agent wants to check a residential tenancy database (which a renter can do themselves for free once a year) they can do so, but at their own cost.
Learn more about Renter (tenant) databases(opens in a new window) and Applying for a property(opens in a new window)
Capping cost of breaking a lease
If you break a rental agreement, the rental provider is entitled to some compensation for lost rent. But this should be a fair and reasonable amount – not something that breaks the bank.
The costs a renter has to pay depend on the kind of rental agreement and the costs the rental provider has paid.
No fees for extra keys (or key fobs)
If you live in a secure apartment building, losing your fob can be a disaster – especially if you don’t have a spare.
Rental providers must give each person on the rental agreement a free set of keys when they move in. This also applies to security devices such as swipe cards.
If the renter needs both a key and another security device to get into the property, both have to be supplied free of charge.
Learn more at Locks and security(opens in a new window)
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