On this page:
Other pages have information about signing a rental agreement and renter’s rights and responsibilities.
Before you apply
Before you apply for a rental property read this page so that you know:
- the pricing rules for advertised rental properties
- the information and documents you need to prepare for your rental application
- the rules for information that rental providers and agents can ask from you.
Pricing rules for advertised rental properties
A rental property must only be advertised for rent at a fixed amount. It is unlawful for a rental provider or their agent to:
- advertise a property with a price range
- ask for, invite or accept offers of, rent higher than the advertised price
- ask for, invite or accept more than one month's rent in advance
- advertise or offer a property to let, unless they reasonably believe the property meets the rental minimum standards.
A rental provider or agent cannot charge a fee to show someone a property to rent.
Report an issue with an advertised rental property
Prospective renters, real estate agents or members of the public with concerns about an advertised rental property can report an issue to us. Find out more, go to Report an issue with an advertised rental property.
Rental application form
From 31 March 2026, rental providers and their agents must use the prescribed form for rental applications.
The rental application form gives renters a clear picture of the information they need to give a rental provider. It also makes it quicker and easier for renters to apply for properties and for rental providers and agents to manage the process.
The prescribed form is set out in regulations. We recommend using our rental application form.
A rental provider or agent can only ask for the information set out in the prescribed rental application form. This information is limited to what is necessary for a rental provider or agent to decide if a renter is suitable, for example to confirm their identity and capacity to pay the advertised rent.
Rental providers and agents can only use a renter’s personal information to decide whether or not they are a suitable renter, or to comply with another requirement of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
The rental provider or agent can ask you for the following information as part of your application:
Personal details
A rental applicant completing the application form will need to provide the following personal information:
- full name
- date of birth
- current address
- phone number
- email address.
Employment details
You will be asked for details of your employment history, such as:
- current or most recent employer
- employer address
- net weekly income
- if not currently employed, date on which most recent employment ended.
If you cannot provide details of your current employment or income, you will need to provide other information that shows you will be able to pay the rent.
Financial information
A rental provider or their agent may request no more than two documents from the following list to confirm your capacity to pay the rent:
- Pay slips from current or recent employment
- Bank statement (without transaction details)
- Centrelink payment statements or letters.
If you are not receiving regular income, for example you are unemployed, self-employed, freelance or work on a casual basis, the rental provider may ask you for details of previous employment or other documents supporting your financial ability to pay rent, such as proof of savings or assets.
Verification of identity
A rental provider or their agent can request no more than two identity documents from this list:
- Driver licence
- Proof of age card (government issued)
- Medicare card
- Australian passport
- Foreign passport and Australian visa
- Birth certificate
- Certificate of Australian citizenship
- Tertiary student identification card
- Centrelink card
- Department of Veteran's Affairs card
- Utilities bill at current address
- Letter from a government Department addressed to current address.
Rental or residential history
A rental provider or their agent may request that you supply your previous rental history or residential history, including addresses and rental provider contact details.
References
A rental provider or their agent may request the contact details of personal referees.
If this is requested, you can supply the below contact details of your personal referees.
- Name
- Phone number
- Email
- Referee's connection to you
Term of rental agreement
You can advise the rental provider of the desired lease term. (i.e. 6 months, 12 months, 24 months) and the preferred move in date.
Tenancy databases
A rental provider or their agent can use tenancy databases to check your rental history. If the rental provider or agent uses such databases, they need to tell you the names of the databases they will use.
Questions renters cannot be asked
The rental provider or agent cannot ask you for the following information as part of your application:
- whether you have taken legal action or have had a dispute with a rental provider
- your bond history, including whether a claim has been made on your bond
- a bank statement with daily transactions - you may need to provide a statement, but you can delete transactions that you feel should be kept private
- if the rental provider asks you about personal protected attributes outlined in the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (for example, ethnicity, gender identity, disability), they have to provide you with the reason for asking that information in writing
- any questions that are not on the new rental application form.
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. For further information, go to Unlawful discrimination.
The rental provider’s decision to choose a renter
A rental provider has the right to choose the person they think is the most suitable applicant for their property. They can decide based on a number of different things, including (but not limited to) an applicant’s rental history and ability to pay rent. However, it is against the law to refuse to rent a property to someone because of certain personal characteristics, including age, disability, race or religion. This is unlawful discrimination.
If a rental provider asks you about any of these characteristics, they must tell you in writing why that information is required.
They must include a statement of information about unlawful discrimination when they provide you with the application form.
Generally, a rental provider or agent cannot refuse to rent out a property to someone because they have children aged 16 or under. The only reasons a rental provider can refuse to rent their property to someone with children is if the property:
- is the rental provider's main residence
- has a location or design that makes it unsuitable or inappropriate for children.
If a person has been told that a property is unsuitable for children, but they disagree, they can apply to VCAT to make a decision.
Application checklist
- Read through and complete the rental application form.
- 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 it back to the agent or rental provider.
Deposits
A rental provider or agent may ask a potential renter for a ‘holding deposit’ before a rental agreement is signed.
The money must be refunded once both parties sign the agreement.
If they don’t sign an agreement within 14 days, the money must be refunded by the next business day.
Sections of the Act
If you want to know what the law says about applying for a property, you can read these sections of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997:
- Sections 29C–30A – Discrimination in relation to residential rental agreements.
- Section 30AC – Application to enter residential rental agreement to be in the prescribed form.
- Sections 30B–30E – Disclosures and representations prior to entering into residential rental agreements.
- Section 30BA - Residential rental provider may request prescribed information from applicants.
Regulations