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Finding and applying for a rental property

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Introduction

Victoria has some of the strongest rental protections in Australia, but renting can still be complicated. With one in three Victorians now renting, understanding your rental rights has never been more important.

The Renters Guide explains the rules and your rights at every stage of renting in Victoria, from applying for a property to moving out.

Whether you’re a first-time renter or have rented before, this guide provides you with the information you need to rent confidently.

Key terms

  • Rental provider: landlord.
  • Renter: tenant.
  • Agent: real estate agent.
  • The Residential Tenancies Act 1997: This sets out the laws, rights and responsibilities of renters and rental providers in Victoria.
  • RDRV: Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria. A free dispute resolution service to help renters and rental providers resolve disputes.
  • VCAT: Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. This tribunal resolves legal disputes and cases in Victoria, including renting issues.

Read about finding and applying for a rental property:

Documents and information you may need to provide:

  • Formal identification (such as a driver’s licence)
  • Employment details, such as a payslip
  • Rental references.

The rental provider or agent cannot ask you for this information in your application:

  • Whether you’ve taken legal action or had a dispute with a previous rental provider.
  • Your bond history, including any claims you’ve made on your bond.
  • Detailed bank statements with daily transactions (if you need to provide a statement, you can delete transactions you think should be kept private).

Unlawful discrimination in renting

In Victoria, it’s against the law to stop somebody from renting a property because of certain personal characteristics, including:

  • age
  • carer status, family responsibilities, parental status
  • disability
  • employment
  • gender identity, lawful sexual activity, sexual orientation
  • marital status
  • physical features
  • pregnancy, breastfeeding
  • profession, trade or occupation (including being a sex worker)
  • race (including colour, nationality, ethnicity and ethnic origin)
  • religious belief or activity
  • sex.

If a rental provider asks about personal protected attributes outlined in the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (for example, ethnicity, gender identity, disability), they must provide you with a written reason for requesting this information.

The rental provider must also provide you with a statement on discrimination as part of the application form so that you are aware of your rights.

Find more information about unlawful discrimination in renting.

Important to know: Rental providers or agents can’t charge a fee to show you a property to rent.

Legal requirements:

  • Rental properties must be advertised at a fixed amount only. For example, $475 per week.
  • It’s unlawful for rental providers or agents to:
    • advertise a property with a price range
    • ask for, or invite offers of, rent higher than the advertised price.

They can accept a higher, unprompted offer made by a prospective renter.

Seen a rental property that doesn’t look quite right?

You can make an anonymous report to our Renting Taskforce using our online form.

Since 2024, our Renting Taskforce has helped protect Victorian renters’ rights by taking action against rental providers and agents who break the law.

The taskforce investigates issues affecting the safety, security and wellbeing of renters, including:

  • renting out a property that doesn’t meet the rental minimum standards
  • false advertising
  • not lodging bonds with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority or taking an excessive bond (bonds should generally be no higher than the amount of one month's rent)
  • re-letting a property within 6 months after using a notice to vacate claiming the property was going to be sold, demolished or converted
  • failure to provide a condition report
  • rental bidding.

Rental providers and agents who break the law may be issued with a fine or warning or other enforcement action.

Our free rent calculator can help you:

  • work out if a rental property fits your budget over time
  • calculate the exact amount you owe if you move out part-way through a rent payment period
  • plan your housing expenses more effectively.

Use the rent calculator.

This checklist includes the key steps when applying for a rental property.


Read through and complete the rental application form.

List all people who will be living at the property.

List any pets that will be living at the property.

Include all details of your rental referees.

Provide information about your employment, such as payslips.

Include character references (if needed).

Make sure you can pay the bond (usually the same amount as one month’s rent) along with the first month’s rent. Generally, these need to be paid before you move in.

Sign your completed application form, include all required attachments and send these back to the agent or rental provider.

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