If a rental agreement is affected by family violence, renters, rental providers and property managers have specific rights and obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
For example, a renter who is a ‘protected person’ under a family violence safety notice, family violence intervention order or personal safety intervention order can change the locks without the landlord’s or property manager’s consent.
As a property manager, if the locks have been changed, you must not give keys to a renter who you know has been excluded from the rental property under a family violence safety notice, family violence intervention order or personal safety intervention order.
If a person is experiencing family violence, they can apply to VCAT to end the rental agreement early or start a new agreement in the same property that does not include the person being violent (the respondent).
They can do this even if they do not have a safety notice or intervention order. They can use information or evidence such as letters, recordings, photos or statements from others to show they are experiencing family violence.