Consumer Affairs Victoria

Applying for a rental agreement

Fixed price advertising and ban on rental bidding

A rental property must be advertised at a fixed amount. A property cannot be advertised for rent with the costs listed within a price range.

Rental providers are also banned from soliciting or inviting offers of rent higher than the advertised price.

For more information, view the Fixed price advertisements and offers, and ban on inviting rental bids guide.

Inappropriate questions and discrimination disclosure

A rental provider or their agent cannot request inappropriate information in a rental application – for example, the renter's bond history.

Rental application forms must include an information statement that educates applicants, rental providers and agents about unlawful discrimination.

For more information, view the Inappropriate questions and discrimination disclosure guide.

Signing a rental agreement

Before signing

Before entering into a rental agreement, the rental provider must disclose to the renter whether the property is on the market for sale or is being repossessed, or if they are not the owner of the property, and information about any embedded energy network.

For more information, view the Disclosure requirements before entering into a rental agreement guide.

Maximum bond amount and rent in advance

Rental providers cannot ask for or accept more than one month’s rent as a bond, or require renters to pay more than one month’s rent in advance, for properties with a rent of $900 per week or less.

For more information, view the Maximum bond amount and rent in advance guide.

Moving in

Rental minimum standards

Rental minimum standards are changing, including your rights around heating and door and window locks in the rental property.

Rental providers have a duty to ensure their rental property meets the rental minimum standards.

For more information, view the Rental minimum standards guide.

Keys and security

Rental providers  must provide each renter with a free set of keys or security device. Rental providers can only charge a reasonable fee for additional or replacement keys or devices.

Caravan park owners and residential park site owners must not charge a fee for the supply of a key to enable car access to the park.

For more information, view the Rental provider must provide a free set of keys for each renter guide.

Modifications

Renters can make certain modifications without the rental provider’s consent. There are other modifications which a rental provider cannot unreasonably refuse consent to renters making.

For more information, view the Making modifications in rental properties guide.

Urgent repairs

More things are now considered an urgent repair, such as a broken cooling appliance, a functioning smoke alarm, pest infestation, mould and meeting the rental minimum standards.

Rental providers must pay back renters for the cost of urgent repairs (or replacement if the fault cannot be repaired) within seven days of the renter giving written notice of the reasonable cost of the repairs.

This applies to urgent repairs to all rental properties including rooming houses, caravans, caravan park sites and residential park sites.

For more information, view the Rental provider must pay renter back for cost of urgent repairs within seven days guide.

Inspections and rights of entry

Rental providers must give renters seven days’ notice of a general inspection and pay at least $30 for each sales inspection that takes place.

A renter can object to the production of advertising images or videos that show their possessions in certain circumstances.

Rental providers must also comply with more detailed rules around rights of entry, including a longer notice period for some grounds, restrictions for renters protected under personal safety and family violence legislation, and length and frequency of entry.

For more information, view the Rights of entry to a rental property to take advertising photos and conduct sales inspections guide.

Electrical and gas safety

Renters and rental providers must undertake safety-related activities set out in the rental agreement. Where necessary, they must ensure the activity is carried out by a suitably qualified person.

Rental providers must comply with requirements for keeping and producing records of gas and electrical safety checks conducted at the property.

For more information, view the Electrical and gas safety guide.