Consumer Affairs Victoria can issue an infringement notice if we identify breaches of certain sections of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.

An infringement notice allows you to pay a fine for these offences without an admission of guilt, rather than going to court.

The fine is less than the maximum penalty a court can impose if it found you guilty.

For full details of your legal obligations, refer to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.

Penalty amounts are set at $122.14 per penalty unit for 2011-12. These may increase at the beginning of each financial year, in line with the Monetary Units Act 2004.

For information about penalty unit rates, visit the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel website.

Section of the Residential Tenancies Act

Obligation

Penalty for breaching obligation

s.26(2)

A tenancy agreement must be in the prescribed form (Form 1 Schedule 1)

5 penalty units

s.29(1)

A landlord must not give a tenant draft documents or terms to sign unless a copy has been provided to the tenant

5 penalty units

s.29(2)

A tenant must be given a signed copy of an agreement or terms within 14 days of being agreed to

5 penalty units

s.34

A person must not demand or accept a second bond

10 penalty units

s.35(1)

If a tenant pays a bond the landlord must, before commencement of occupation, give the tenant two signed copies of a Condition Report

5 penalty units

s.41

A landlord must not require a tenant to pay rent more than two weeks in advance if rent is payable each week

10 penalty units

s.43(1)

Written receipt for rent to be provided immediately if paid in person or within five business days if requested (and not paid in person)

5 penalty units

s.43(2)

Where rent is not paid in person and the tenant does not request a receipt, the landlord must retain records of all payments for 12 months

5 penalty units

s.43(2A)

Where a tenant requests a copy of a rent receipt within 12 months, the landlord must provide a copy within five days

5 penalty units

s.49

A person must not take or dispose of a tenant’s goods as a result of rent owing

10 penalty units

s.51(1)

A person cannot charge a fee for making, continuing or renewing a tenancy agreement

10 penalty units

s.51(2)

A person cannot demand or receive a fee from the tenant for inspection of premises

10 penalty units

s.51(3)

A person cannot charge for rent payment card or use of direct debit to pay for rent

10 penalty units

s.56

Landlord must not seek overpayment for utility charge

10 penalty units

s.66(1)

Landlord must give the tenant a copy of rights and duties in prescribed form

5 penalty units

s.66(2)

Landlord must provide full name, address and (where there is no agent) emergency telephone number in writing

5 penalty units

s.66(3)

If an agent acts for a landlord, the landlord must provide the tenant in writing with the agent’s name and address and whether the agent can authorise urgent repairs

5 penalty units

s.66(4)

The landlord must notify the tenant in writing of any changes in certain information previously provided within seven days after the change

5 penalty units

s.96

A rooming house owner must not demand or accept a bond that exceeds 14 days of rent

10 penalty units

s.97(1)

If a resident pays a bond the rooming house owner must, before commencement of occupation, provide two signed copies of the Condition Report to the resident

5 penalty units

s.99

A rooming house owner must not require rent payable more then 14 days in advance

5 penalty units

s.100(1)

Written receipt for rent to be provided immediately if paid in person or within five days if requested (and not paid in person)

5 penalty units

s.100(2)

Where rent is not paid in person and the resident does not request a receipt the rooming house owner must retain records of all payments for 12 months

5 penalty units

s.100(2A)

Where a resident requests a copy of a rent receipt within 12 months, the rooming house owner must provide a copy within five days

5 penalty units

s.107

A person must not take or dispose of a resident’s goods as a result of rent owing

10 penalty units

s.124

The rooming house owner must prominently display, in each resident’s room, a written statement of the resident’s rights and obligations (in the approved form) and a copy of the house rules

5 penalty units

s.125(1)

Rooming house owner must provide in writing their full name, address and (where there is no agent) emergency telephone number

5 penalty units

s.125(2)

If an agent acts for a rooming house owner, that owner must provide the resident in writing with the agent’s name and address and whether the agent can authorise urgent repairs

5 penalty units

s.145

A caravan park owner must give notice (Form 2 Schedule 1) to a person who intends to occupy a site as a main residence that they may enter into a written agreement and that they become a resident if they occupy the premises for 60 consecutive days

5 penalty units

s.146(3)

A caravan park owner must not require a person to pay a bond where they have not entered into a written agreement

10 penalty points

s.147

A caravan park owner must not demand or accept a bond that exceeds 28 days of rent

10 penalty points

s.148(1)

If a resident pays a bond the caravan park owner must, before commencement of occupation, give the resident two signed copies of a Condition Report

5 penalty units

s.150(1)

A caravan park owner must not require rent payable more than 14 days in advance

10 penalty units

s.150(2)

A caravan park owner must not require a hiring charge more than 28 days in advance

10 penalty units

s.151(1)

Written receipt for rent or hiring charge to be provided immediately if paid in person or within five days if requested (and not paid in person)

5 penalty units

s.151(2)

When rent or hiring charges are not paid person and the resident does not request a copy, the caravan park owner must keep records of payments for 12 months

5 penalty units

s.151(2A)

Where a resident requests a copy within 12 months the owner must provide a copy within five days

5 penalty units

s.160

A person must not take or dispose of a resident’s goods as a result of rent or hiring charges owing

10 penalty units

s.166(1)

Caravan park owner must not seek overpayment for utility charges

10 penalty units

s.182

On the day that a resident enters into occupation of a caravan park, the caravan park owner must give the resident a written statement of their rights and duties, and a copy of the caravan park rules

5 penalty units

s.183(1)

On the day that a resident enters into occupation of a caravan park, the caravan park owner must give the resident a written statement setting out additional rent, hiring charges, fees and scale of commissions

5 penalty units

s.183(2)

A caravan park owner must give a resident seven days notice of any proposed changes to additional rent, hiring charges, fees and scale of commissions

5 penalty units

s.184(1)

Caravan park owner must provide in writing their full name, address and (where there is no agent) emergency telephone number

5 penalty units

s.184(2)

If an agent acts for a caravan park owner, that owner must provide the resident in writing with the agent’s name and address and whether the agent can authorise urgent repairs

5 penalty units

s.184(3)

The caravan park owner must notify the resident in writing of any changes to contact details within seven days of the change

5 penalty units

s.186(1)

The caravan park owner must notify the resident of any changes to the caravan park rules within seven days of the change

5 penalty units

s.198(1)

A caravan park owner must not enter into an agreement to sell a caravan unless they have provided a scale of commission for the sale

5 penalty units

s.198(2)

A caravan par owner must not obstruct or hinder the sale of a caravan park

20 penalty units

s.264(1)

Where the landlord gives a tenant a Notice to Vacate due to:

  • demolition
  • change in use to business purposes
  • occupation by the landlord's family
  • sale of the premises

the premises may not be let until six months have passed

20 penalty units

s.287(1)

Where the rooming house owner gives a resident a Notice to Vacate due to repairs, reconstruction or demolition, the room may not be rented until six months have passed

20 penalty units

s.295

Except in accordance with the Act, a person must not force a resident to vacate, take possession of, restrict access to, interfere with the peace of, or restrict services or facilities to a site

20 penalty units

s.358(1)

A person removed from a rooming house under warrant must not re-enter and take possession of a room

20 penalty units

s.358(2)

A person removed from a site or caravan park under warrant must not re-enter and take possession of a site or caravan

20 penalty units

s.369

A person given Notice to Leave a managed property must not remain on the premises after receiving a copy of the notice

10 penalty units

s.372

A resident whose tenancy agreement has been suspended must not re-enter the premises during that suspension

10 penalty units

s.373

Where a notice to Leave has been issued the manager must also give the principal registrar written notice by no later than the end of the next business day

20 penalty units

s.377(1)

Where a tenancy agreement is suspended, a rooming house owner must not allow a party to lease or occupy the premises during that suspension

20 penalty units

s.377(2)

Where a residency right is suspended, a rooming house owner must not allow a party to occupy the premises during that suspension

20 penalty units

s.377(3)

Where a residency right is suspended, a caravan park owner must not allow a party to occupy the premises during that suspension

20 penalty units

s.382(2)

Where a person wishes to reclaim documents and pays associated costs, the owner of the premises must not refuse to give the documents to that person

20 penalty units

s.405(1)

A landlord must, at the time a bond is paid, complete and sign a Bond Lodgement form and give the form to the tenant to sign

5 penalty units

s.405(4)

The landlord must give the tenant a copy of the Bond Lodgement form

5 penalty units

s.406

The landlord must, within 10 days after a bond is received, lodge that bond with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA)

10 penalty units

s.424(1)

If a landlord assigns or transfers their rights under an agreement they must notify the RTBA of the assignment or transfer of a bond

10 penalty units

s.424(3)

Where the landlord transfers their rights they must provide the tenant with a copy of a notice with the information prescribed in Regulation 22

10 penalty units

s.425(1)

If a tenant assigns or transfers their rights under an agreement they must notify the RTBA of the assignment or transfer of a bond

10 penalty units

s.428

The tenant must pay rent and not use their bond as rent

20 penalty units

Last updated: 02/04/2012

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