March 07, 2025 | Katie Wand
The Victorian community legal sector supports the passage of the Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Bill in Victoria, which is a significant positive step towards improving the rights and protections of renters.
The Bill includes a suite of reforms to address the rental crisis and make the rental market fairer. Key reforms include banning all types of rental bidding and third-party businesses for charging extra fees when paying rent or applying for a property; increasing the notice period for rent increases and notices to vacate to 90 days; removing all no-fault evictions and introducing tougher penalties for real estate agents who break the law; and the establishment of Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria.
The Bill includes other important measures, such as the expansion of factors considered by Consumer Affairs Victoria and VCAT in rent reviews to include the size of rent increase, and the introduction of mandatory training for real estate agents and property managers. The Bill also ensures that properties meet minimum standards at the time of advertising.
Victoria is in a housing crisis, with increasing numbers of community legal centre clients experiencing precarious housing as rents increase, housing supply fails to meet demand, renters cannot access tenancy protections, and systems for resolving housing disputes remain inaccessible.
We commend the Victorian Government for progressing these important reforms that have the potential to drastically improve the lives and outcomes of renters across Victoria. We hope that the Victorian Government will take further steps to secure the effectiveness of the reforms, including increasing funding for community legal services to navigate them.
Louisa Gibbs, CEO at the Federation of Community Legal Centres said: “Renters across Victoria have had it tough, with the rental crisis pushing too many people and families into precarity. As demand for community legal assistance for people experiencing legal problems with their rental property rises, it is clear that systemic change is needed to fix Victoria’s rental market.
“The community legal sector supports these reforms, and congratulates the Victorian Government for heeding the advice of community legal centres and other advocacy group on these matters.”
Jennifer Beveridge, CEO at Tenants Victoria said: “This Bill is an opportunity to permanently increase renters’ ability to self-advocate, and should result in better housing in a fairer system. It’s so important that Victorian renters enforce their rights, yet many Victorian renters are deeply hesitant about VCAT. The new dispute resolution body in the Bill is a positive move towards improving renters’ ability to advocate for what they deserve, and receive what the law says is fair.”
Damian Stock, CEO at ARC Justice said: “Removing the ability of a rental provider to evict a renter at the end of the 12-month fixed term of the lease – for no specified reason – is a much-needed reform. It will increase security and stability for renters and their families and remove their fear of retaliation for exercising fundamental rights such as asking for repairs. Rental providers retain the ability to evict if their circumstances genuinely change, making this modest reform, balanced for all.”
Nerita Waight, CEO at Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service said: "Our clients face discrimination in the private rental market, so stronger protections to renters’ rights are of critical importance to their safety and wellbeing. Increasing the notice period for rent increases and notice to vacates to 90 days will give our clients time to get advice, enforce their rights and — if necessary — find another home."
Melissa Hardham, CEO at Westjustice said: “In a rental crisis, people and communities shouldn’t be pitted against each other for housing or exploited beyond their means to pay. We welcome the State government’s meaningful action to outlaw the acceptance of any form of rental bidding above an advertised price, and key amendments which will stop third-party charges through apps and websites for renters for whom every spare dollar at the end of the week counts.”
