Protecting renters' rights

We’ll restrict rent increases between successive fixed-term leases, cracking down on an emerging trend which has seen some landlords evict tenants at the end of their first fixed-term lease in order raise the rent substantially when re-listing the rental property. If agents or landlords are issuing a new lease after they’ve evicted previous tenants on their first fixed-term one, they’ll have to offer the property at the same rent for at least 12 months. It’ll reduce the incentive for landlords to churn through renters by evicting them, and give renters more certainty over their living arrangements.

In 2021, we made it illegal for real estate agents or landlords to solicit or encourage higher offers than the advertised price of a rental property. But a tight rental market with vacancy rates at record lows has put an incredible amount of pressure on prospective tenants. More and more, we’re seeing people make their own unsolicited bids – either to pay more weekly rent or to pay more than four weeks in advance – to try and give their applications a competitive edge. We’ll level the playing field for renters by closing this loophole and banning all types of rental bidding for good. We’ll make it an offence to accept bids, and introduce tougher penalties for agents and landlords who break the law.

With more people in Victoria renting than ever before, it’s inevitable that the number of rental disputes has increased, too. Often, a rental dispute can be just one of a range of cost of living pressures a renter could be facing. And when that happens, a quick resolution can make a world of difference. But you shouldn’t have to end up at VCAT to have simple repairs done, or to get the money you’re owed. VCAT should be a last resort for tenants and landlords, not the first stop. We’ll establish Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria, providing a one-stop shop for renters, agents and landlords 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.

Anyone who’s ever moved house knows costs can add up, quickly. And when you’re between homes, every dollar counts. We’ll build a portable rental bond scheme, where tenants can 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 tenants, 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. It’ll streamline the administrative process for agents and property managers, who handle dozens of rentals at any one time. And it’ll create a more efficient rental market – which is good news for both renters and landlords.

Rent increases and eviction notices can be incredibly distressing. Some renters facing increases may not be able to afford to stay where they are, and be forced to change their housing situation altogether. Evicted renters have to quickly figure out their next steps – including finding a new place to live, budgeting, packing, and coordinating logistics – all while dealing with the emotional stress of their changing situation. For families with children, eviction notices can be particularly traumatic. We’ll give renters more certainty, and ease the stress evicted renters face, by extending notice of rent increases and notice to vacate periods to 90 days.

Every real estate transaction involves significant financial investments and legal complexities, and renters often rely on agents to provide accurate information and advice. We’ll introduce mandatory continuing professional development for real estate industry professionals – including agents, property managers, conveyancers and owners corporation managers. It’ll mean better skills for real estate workers, encourage ethical conduct across the industry, and give renters the peace of mind they deserve.

Applying for a rental property should be a fast, fair, straightforward process. But the reality is many renters – who usually apply for more than one property at a time – can face a field of different demands for information, records or documents just so they can secure a place to live. 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. We’ll also limit the kind of information agents or landlords can keep on file, and how long they can keep it for, better protecting renters’ privacy and data.

Right now, around 5 per cent of Victorian households are facing serious renting stress – meaning they’re at risk of being evicted because they can’t afford to pay their rent. There are a range of organisations who work tirelessly to prevent homelessness and help renters stay in their homes, providing legal assistance, financial information and advice, and advocacy services. We’ll back their critical work for Victorians in need by delivering a $2 million Rental Stress Support Package through the Victorian Property Fund. The package will help address the high demand for rental assistance these organisations are seeing, while we work to boost social, affordable and market housing supply across the state.