The Victorian Government has allocated $98.74 million over 5 years to increase support for Victorians experiencing rental issues through the new Victorian Renter Rights Program (VRRP).
The VRRP introduces 4 dedicated services to strengthen advice, advocacy and frontline support:
The tender for new service providers has been announced. More information about the process and service guidelines can be found below.
Renter Rights Service
The Renter Rights Service will provide local access to advice, support, and advocacy for renters across the state.
Older Persons Housing Rights Service
The Older Persons Housing Rights Service will provide a new, integrated service for Victorians aged 55 and above living in:
- private rentals
- residential parks, and
- retirement living.
Support will be available statewide, including through a new website and dedicated phone service.
Victorian Renters Helpline
The Victorian Renters Helpline will be a new, easy to find central phone line and website. It offers tailored advice and support based on renters’ personal circumstances, and referrals to the person’s local Renter Rights Service provider.
Renting Central Service
The Renter Central Service will deliver specialist advice, professional development, advocacy, and training for frontline workers. It will offer specialist legal support for renters with complex issues. It will also deliver community education and support on Victoria’s renting rules for multicultural communities.
About the request for service
On 13 February 2026, the application form for all 4 services opened. Applications will be assessed through a competitive process.
Please read and consider all relevant documents before applying. Further details about how to apply is available in the request for service documents.
If you experience issues completing your application, please contact: communityprograms@dgs.vic.gov.au
How much funding is available?
There is $98.74 million in program funding. The funding available under each of the 4 services is detailed in each request for service guideline.
Who can apply for funding?
You can apply for funding if your organisation:
- Is non-government and not-for-profit
- Operates in Victoria
- Is registered for GST and has a valid ABN
- Has relevant experience providing the service you are applying for.
Clarification period
You can seek further clarification via email: communityprograms@dgs.vic.gov.au
You must use the subject line: “(Your organisation’s name) – VRRP clarification request”.
This must be done before the clarification period ends at 5pm, 16 February.
Briefing sessions
Prospective applicants were encouraged to attend an online briefing session to find out more about the different services and process information.
A recording of the session is available below:
Video transcript: VRRP briefing session (Word, 53KB)
Key dates for the request of service
|
Stage
|
Date/time
|
Clarification period
|
2 – 16 February 2026 (closes 5 pm)
|
| Applications open |
13 February 2026
|
| Applications close |
11.59 pm, 6 March 2026
|
| Evaluation |
March – June 2026
|
| Execution of funding agreements |
June – July 2026
|
Frequently asked questions
All programs
Will existing Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program, Retirement Housing Assistance and Advocacy Program and Tenancy Central Service providers automatically transition to the new Victorian Renter Rights Program?
The Victorian Renter Rights Program replaces the Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program, the Retirement Housing Assistance and Advocacy Program, and the Tenancy Central Service.
Currently funded agencies will not automatically transition.
If an existing provider wishes to deliver services under the Victorian Renter Rights Program, they must apply through the request for service process.
Will partnership arrangements be considered?
For the Victorian Renter Helpline and Renter Rights Service a single provider is preferred.
The Older Persons Housing Rights Service and Renter Central Service can be provided in partnership. Applicants may wish to propose a partnership-based delivery model for these services.
Under this arrangement, Department of Government Services would enter into a funding agreement with a single lead agency. The lead agency would be responsible for:
- coordinating service delivery
- managing and distributing funding to partner agencies
- meeting all reporting and compliance requirements.
Partner agencies would deliver services through formal partnership arrangements with the lead agency and would not have a direct contractual relationship with the Government.
Is it possible to seek an extension to the application deadline?
No, unfortunately we are unable to extend the timelines.
What are the expectations of the number of renters each program should assist with the FTE detailed in the Request for Service Guidelines?
While you may have seen reference to future client numbers in the announcement about the VRRP, these will not be considered through the evaluation process.
The evaluation process will consider the applicant’s ability to deliver services aligned to each program’s service model.
Applications should provide clear and concise information against each of the selection criteria, including workforce capability.
How is eligibility determined for each program?
Eligibility is outlined in the respective Program Guidelines.
What combination of programs can organisations apply for?
|
Program
|
May also apply for
|
| Renter Rights Service |
Victorian Renters Helpline |
Renter Central Service
|
Victorian Renters Helpline
Older Persons Housing Rights Service
|
Older Persons Housing Rights Service
|
Victorian Renters Helpline
Renter Central Service
|
Victorian Renters Helpline
|
Renter Rights Service,
Older Persons Housing Rights Service and/or Renter Central Service.
For example, if a Victorian Renters Helpline applicant applies for the:
- Renter Rights Service, they cannot apply for the Renter Central Service
- Older Persons Housing Rights Service, they cannot apply for the Renter Rights Service
|
Can a non-lead organisation partner with multiple organisations to provide services?
Yes, all complete applications will be considered independently. The lead agency will need to:
- make appropriate governance arrangements
- ensure there is no conflict of interest between their agency and the other organisations providing the services.
Is there a copy of the application form so that applicants can draft responses offline before uploading into the portal?
The application form will be available in the online portal on 13 February.
You can find all the information to prepare your application in the Request for Service documents. You may wish to use documents to prepare your application before the opening of the portal.
When completing the online application form, you will need to make sure you have:
- met the eligibility criteria
- responded to the assessment criteria within the word limits
- included organisation contact details, including bank account details and ABN
- included the name, ABN and legal status of any partner agencies if applicable
- included details for two referees, including contact information
- authorisation to submit the application on behalf of the CEO.
Won’t existing service providers have an advantage in the application process, because they can speak to service volumes?
No. Each application will be independently assessed against the criteria, regardless of whether an applicant is an existing CAV funded services provider. All applicants have access to the same information to prepare their application.
However, we encourage you to think about how you can demonstrate your ability to manage demand, and cite existing service volumes for a similar service that you currently deliver.
Where do we access the application portal?
The applications can be accessed above under each of the programs. Please ensure that you select the link under the program you are wanting to apply for.
Is there any high-level guidance on how CAV expects service volume, service mix, and workforce capacity to align with the 25,500 figure?
References to projected client numbers were included in the announcements of the VRRP however these will not be considered through the evaluation process. It is expected that the bulk of program clients will be supported through the local, place-based Renter Rights Service and the Victorian Renters Helpline. The service models outline expected differences in client complexity and services, with those of greater complexity anticipated to support lower clients numbers while those services delivering services to clients with less complex matters supporting higher client numbers.
Renter Rights Service
For the Renter Rights Service, will we be expected to make one application to deliver in multiple service areas? Or will it be an application per service area?
Organisations must apply separately for each service area they wish to deliver.
Within the Renter Rights Service, is there flexibility in how providers allocate FTE between the Intake and Triage and Advocate roles?
Once the Renter Rights Service is set up, adjustment to FTE allocation may be reviewed by DGS and the provider, as long as Intake and Triage, and Advocate roles are being provided within the total specified funding amount.
What is CAV looking for in its service providers?
CAV’s focus is on selecting the organisations best positioned to deliver high-quality, place-based services that are well connected and responsive to their communities.
Does the Renter Rights Service provide assistance to social housing renters?
All Victorians will be eligible for information and referral. The primary focus of the Renter Rights Service is renters with private rental agreements, rooming house residents, and residential and caravan park residents.
What is the maximum number of service areas that an organisation can apply for under the Renter Rights Service? And are these service areas LGA-based?
There is no maximum number of service areas an organisation can apply to deliver services in under the Renter Rights Service. Applications will be considered separately for each service area. The 17 service areas are based on the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s service areas, which are built from local government areas. A separate application is required for each service area.
Do workers for the Older Persons Housing Rights Service and Renter Rights Service require a legal background?
No, Renter Rights Service and Older Persons Housing Rights Service workers do not require a legal background, as these are advocacy and casework roles. You can find more details about these in the respective Program Guidelines.
Does the 10% service enhancement component represent part of the 1,301 hours or is it a separate component?
Yes, service enhancement is included in the 1,301 hours of service for each funded full time equivalent position per year. Agencies can elect to provide up to 10 per cent of the total service hours on service enhancement activities.
Is there a detailed allocation of the total service enhancement hours across the various activities. For example, establishing partnerships and referral pathways, secondary consultations, promotional and educational sessions, travel time, and professional development?
Service enhancement activities are optional non-client specific activities undertaken to build sector capability, strengthen referral pathways, and promote access to the service to improve outcomes for vulnerable clients. Agencies can elect to provide up to a maximum of 10 per cent of the total service hours on service enhancement activities and have discretion to determine the most appropriate allocation.
Is IRIS the database to be used for recording service hours?
CAV does not mandate a specific database or case management system to manage agency reporting obligations. The requirements of what to report, and when, is detailed in the request for service guidelines. Agencies are responsible for ensuring that the databases/CRMs they have in use are able to generate the required csv files.
Is the specified FTE for the Intake & Triage roles in each region expected to contribute to client numbers? As in, can they have a caseload like the Advocate FTE? Or are they expected just to be doing an intake/triage function? How does CAV envisage this role differ from that of the Advocates?
Yes, the Intake and Triage roles will contribute to overall client numbers. These roles will be primarily focused on delivery of intake, triage and referral services including early Intervention support in the new program. It is not anticipated that these roles will have a substantive caseload, however this will be monitored as the new program is implemented.
Older Persons Housing Rights Service
Is there flexibility for providers to adjust FTE allocations across eligible housing types within the Older Persons Housing Rights Service in response to service demand?
There will be flexibility to move resources across the different services within the Older Persons Housing Rights Service, and in the types of workers delivering the advocacy services. As the Older Persons Housing Rights Service is a new service, there will be an element of negotiation as it is implemented.
What aspects of the Older Persons Housing Rights Service are expected to be delivered by lawyers?
The Program Guidelines and Request for Service Guidelines have been updated to reflect a focus on the delivery of advocacy and casework support services.
Can you please clarify the skills of the Older Persons Housing Rights Service and Renter Rights Service workers? Do they require a legal background?
Renter Rights Service and Older Persons Housing Rights Service workers do not require a legal background, as these are advocacy and casework roles. You can find more details about these in the respective Program Guidelines.
How will the Older Persons Housing Rights Service help residents in residential parks (land-lease villages)?
Older Persons Housing Rights Service provides a dedicated service designed to support Victorians over 55 who live in retirement housing, private rentals or residential parks. If a client is not eligible to receive Older Persons Housing Rights Service, they may seek assistance under the Renter Rights Service.
As detailed in the Older Persons Housing Rights Service Program Guidelines, residents will be supported with early intervention support, information and referral, negotiation and advocacy, and assistance with Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria matters and Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearings.
How is retirement housing defined?
In the Older Persons Housing Rights Service Program Guidelines, retirement housing is defined as a retirement or rental village.
Will all older persons be eligible to receive services under Older Persons Housing Rights Service?
All Victorians 55 years of age or older and living in private rentals, retirement housing or residential parks are eligible to receive support from the Older Persons Housing Rights Service.