Victorian renters now have stronger protections against unsupported bond claims, application fees and unsafe rental properties under a new tranche of rental laws that came into effect this week.
From 13 October, rental providers and agents must notify renters before making a claim against a bond and provide evidence to support that claim. Acceptable evidence can include invoices, receipts, quotes and photographs. The change is intended to give renters an opportunity to understand and challenge a claim before money is deducted from their bond.
The reforms also ban rental providers and agents from charging fees for rental applications or rent payments. Earlier reforms had already prohibited third-party rental platforms from charging some of these fees, but the new rules extend that prohibition directly to landlords and agents.
Another major change is the extension of mandatory gas and electrical safety checks to all rental properties, including both new and existing agreements.
Rental providers must now arrange gas and electrical safety checks every two years, with gas checks required where the property has gas appliances, fixtures or fittings. The checks must be carried out by qualified tradespeople.
The government says the requirement is aimed at identifying issues such as faulty heaters, unsafe wiring and ventilation problems before they pose a danger to renters.
Landlords and rooming house operators must also retain records showing that their properties meet minimum rental standards and provide those records to Consumer Affairs Victoria if requested.
There are also additional requirements around draughtproofing. Before certain draughtproofing work is carried out, a licensed gasfitter must assess gas ventilation to reduce the risk of dangerous gases being trapped inside a property.
The changes are the latest in a broader program of rental law reform in Victoria.
Consumer Affairs Victoria says more than 150 rental reforms have been introduced since 2021, including bans on rental bidding and no-fault evictions, longer notice periods for rent increases and some notices to vacate, stronger minimum standards and tighter privacy protections around rental applications.
Around two million Victorians were living in rental properties in 2024, according to Consumer Affairs Victoria.
The government has also made its Renting Taskforce permanent. The taskforce monitors the rental market, investigates potential breaches and can take enforcement action against rental providers and agents who fail to comply with the law. Consumer Affairs Victoria says its enforcement priorities include minimum standards, rental bidding, bond handling, notices to vacate and compliance with VCAT orders.
The government says the taskforce has already issued more than $900,000 in fines, although that figure comes from the government’s latest media release rather than a separate published breakdown of all enforcement actions.
Minister for Renters Tim Richardson said the reforms were intended to give tenants more security and certainty.
“Labor believes renting your home shouldn’t mean you’re treated like a second-class citizen,” Richardson said.
“We’ve already introduced more than 150 new renters rights reforms — this latest tranche means no surprise bond grabs, no fee to apply and a home that’s safe to live in.”
More changes are scheduled from 2027.
Victoria will begin phasing in new minimum energy-efficiency standards from 1 March 2027 covering heating, cooling, hot water, showerheads, ceiling insulation and draughtproofing.
The government has also flagged further reforms including limits on lease-break costs, extra protections around keys and fobs, family violence measures and additional bond reforms.
Labor has used the reforms to draw a political contrast with Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and the Liberals and Nationals ahead of the November state election.
In its media release announcing the new laws, the government claimed a future Coalition government would weaken renter protections and linked that argument to what it described as a $40 billion opposition cuts plan.
That is a political claim from the government. The Liberals and Nationals have instead argued that Victoria needs tighter control of spending, lower taxes and a stronger focus on housing supply and affordability. Their published policy material criticises Labor over debt, property taxes and housing delivery.
The latest rental changes follow a series of reforms first announced under former premier Jacinta Allan and now being implemented under Premier Ben Carroll.
For renters, the most immediate impact is straightforward: landlords and agents must now back up bond claims with evidence, application fees are banned, and regular gas and electrical safety checks are compulsory across the rental sector.
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