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Legislative changes
The Residential Tenancies Act 1997 in Victoria provides protection for all Victorians living in rental accommodation. The Act outlines the rights and obligations of the following groups:
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Residential tenants; landlords, property managers and Owners Corporations
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Residential park or caravan park operators
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Retirement village operators
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Rooming house or boarding house operators
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act of 2018, passed by the Victorian Government on 7 September 2018 proposed more than 130 changes. These changes give increased protection and make renting fairer for all Victorians. These are being introduced in stages with all reforms to have commenced by 29 March 2021. Some will require regulations to be written as not all the details are in the Act itself.
Better electrical safety standards, allowing renters to make minor modifications to the property, allowing pets in rental properties and bond to be capped at 4 weeks’ rent are just some of the changes. A Commissioner for Residential Tenancies has been appointed, compensation for residential park closures, suppression of rooming house details, longer term leases and changes to rent increases are in place.