Victorian renters will soon have access to more support services under the new Victorian Renter Rights Program.
The new program introduces 4 dedicated services to strengthen advice, advocacy and frontline support:
- The Renter Rights Service will provide local access to advice, support, and advocacy for renters across the state.
- 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.
- The Victorian Renters Helpline will be a new, easy to find central phone line and website offering tailored advice and support based on renters’ personal circumstances and referrals to a person’s local Renter Rights Service provider.
- 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, as well as deliver community education and support on Victoria’s renting rules for multicultural communities.
Under the new program, the government will nearly double its annual funding for renter assistance, providing $98.74 million over 5 years to boost renting support services.
Once fully operational, the program is expected to assist around 25,500 clients each year, up from the 12,663 renters who received support in 2024 –25.
The new program responds to population growth, workforce pressures, and rising demand for specialist support for renters, and was developed in response to a recent review of Consumer Affairs Victoria’s funded renting services and financial counselling programs, with the final report published today.
The program will build on the success of and replace the existing Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program, Tenancy Central Service, and Retirement Housing Assistance and Advocacy Program.
A tender for new service providers will open in February 2026. More information about the tender process and documents will be available from the Consumer Affairs Victoria website when it opens.
Existing renter support services including the Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program, Retirement Housing Assistance and Advocacy Program and Tenancy Central Service programs will be extended to allow time to transition to the new model.
The Government also recognises the need for dedicated renting services for First Peoples and people impacted by family violence. New services will be established under the new program, with consultation and service design to commence in 2026.
Financial counselling services will also be extended for 12 months while the government considers the findings from the review.
Services under the Victorian Renter Rights Program are expected to start later this year.