Residential Tenancies Act – Changes 29/03/2021

For your information, we have provided the following Fact Sheets in accordance with the new legislation, provided by Consumer Affairs Victoria.

For information on the new Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021, please click on the below link provided by Consumer Affairs Vic

Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021

If you have any queries in relation to these Fact Sheets, please do not hesitate to contact your Property Manager, or Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 558 181.

Fact Sheet 1 – Replacing Terms

Replacing The terms Landlord, Tenant & Tenancy Agreement

Fact Sheet 1

Fact Sheet 2 – Reason to end Rental Agreement

Rental providers must provide a valid reason to end a rental agreement.

Valid reasons include sale, change of use or demolition of premises, and landlord moving back into the premises. Previously a rental provider could issue a notice to vacate without providing a reason.

Fact Sheet 2

Fact Sheet 3 - New Process for Late or Non Payment of Rent

New renting laws will mean that when a renter pays back overdue rent within 14 days any notice to vacate issued by the rental provider (landlord) for that overdue rent is invalidated (the first four times this happens in a year).

fact Sheet 3

Fact Sheet 4 – Limiting the use of end of fixed term notices to Vacate

New renting laws mean rental providers (landlords) can only issue a ‘end of fixed term' notice to vacate at the end of the first fixed term of a rental agreement.

Fact Sheet 4

Fact Sheet 5 – False, Misleading or Deceptive Representations

New renting laws make it unlawful for rental providers (landlords) and agents to encourage someone to enter a rental agreement by misleading or deceptive conduct, or by false or misleading statements about certain aspects of a rental.

Fact Sheet 5

Fact Sheet 6 – Disclosure Requirements before entering into a Rental Agreement

Under new renting laws, rental providers (landlords) must disclose important information to renters before they sign a rental agreement.

Fact Sheet 6

Fact Sheet 7 - Bond Top Ups for Long Term Rental Agreements

Rental providers (landlords) can now ask renters to top up the bond for long-term rental agreements (more than five years).

Fact Sheet 7

Fact Sheet 8 – Rental Non Compliance Register

New renting laws mean that rental providers (landlords) and their agents will be listed on an online register.

Fact Sheet 8

Fact Sheet 9 – New options for Renters claiming their Bonds

A renter can now apply to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) to have all or part of the bond released. This can now be done without the rental provider's (landlord's) agreement..

Fact Sheet 9

Fact Sheet 10 – Maximum Bond amount & Rent in advance

Rental providers (landlords) are only able to ask for a maximum of one month's rent as a bond for all rental agreements under a certain amount of weekly rent.

Fact Sheet 10

Fact Sheet 11 – Rental Provider must pay Renter back for cost of urgent repairs within seven days

Changes to renting laws mean that rental providers (landlords) must pay renters back for urgent repairs within seven days of them claiming the cost of repairs.

Fact Sheet 11

Fact Sheet 12 – Changes to Rules around Rent Increases

Changes to renting laws mean that rental providers cannot increase rent more than once every 12 months under any type of rental agreement.

Fact Sheet 12

Fact Sheet 13 – Fixed Price advertisements and offers & ban on inviting rental bids

Changes to renting laws mean that rental providers (landlords) and real estate agents must only offer a property for rent at a fixed price.

Fact Sheet 13

Fact Sheet 14 – Pets

The new renting laws mean renters can keep pets at a rental property, with the written permission of

the rental provider (landlord). Rental providers can only refuse permission with approval from the

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Fact Sheet 14

Fact Sheet 15 – Moving to the new rental laws, there are some exceptions for existing agreements

Fact Sheet 15

Fact Sheet 16 – Making modifications in rental properties

Under the new rental laws, renters can make certain modifications to their homes without the consent

of the rental provider (landlord). To make other modifications renters will need the consent of their

rental provider. All modifications need to be reversed at the end of the rental agreement.

Fact Sheet 16

Fact Sheet 17 – Rights of entry to a rental property to take advertising photos and conduct sale

Under the new rental laws, a rental provider or agent will be able to enter the property to take

advertising photographs and videos or to conduct sales inspections,

Fact Sheet 17

Fact Sheet 18 – Refers to caravan parks

Fact Sheet 19 – Guidelines for notice to vacate endangering safety

A renter may be given a notice to vacate by their rental provider (landlord) if they, or their visitor, endanger: another resident or other residents - neighbours - the rental provider or their agent, or

the rental provider's or agent's contractor or employee.

Fact Sheet 19

Fact Sheet 20 – Rental provider must provide a free set of keys for each renter

The rental provider (landlord) must provide a free set of keys or another security device (for example, to access an apartment building's car park) to each renter who signed the rental agreement.

Fact Sheet 20

Fact Sheet 21 – Rental property must be in good repair

A rental property must be in good repair. Even if something was already broken when the renter moved in, it still must be repaired by the rental provider (landlord).

Fact Sheet 21

Fact Sheet 22 – When a renter has to pay back rental provider for repairs

If a rental provider (landlord) has to repair damage to the rental premises caused by a renter, they can issue a notice to require the renter pay the cost of repairs.

Fact Sheet 22

Fact Sheet 23 – Expanded definition of urgent repairs

Repairs or replacements to broken air conditioning, broken safety devices and faults that make the property unsafe or insecure are considered ‘urgent repairs'.

Fact Sheet 23

• Fact Sheet 24 – Issuing a notice to vacate threats and intimidation

A rental provider (landlord) may give a notice to vacate if the renter or anyone living at the rental property has seriously threatened or intimidated the rental provider or their agent, or a contractor or employee of the rental provider or agent.

Fact Sheet 24

Fact Sheet 25 – Renters entitled to copy of personal information in a renter database

Renters are entitled to one free copy per year of information about them listed in a renter database.

Fact Sheet 25

Fact Sheet 26 – Rental minimum standards

Under the new rental laws, rental providers (landlords) must ensure that their rental property meets certain minimum standards. The minimum standards will cover basic but important requirements relating to amenity, safety and privacy, and rental providers will owe a duty to ensure their property meets these standards.

Fact Sheet 26

Fact Sheet 27 – Goods left behind in a rental property

If a former renter leaves behind anything of monetary value at a rental property, the rental provider (landlord) must notify them and store the goods for 14 days.

Fact Sheet 27

Fact Sheet 28 – How rent is paid

The renter must be offered at least one reasonably available fee-free method of payment.

Fact Sheet 28

Fact Sheet 29 – Calculation of compensation for early termination

When a renter terminates a rental agreement earlier than the required notice period, the renter will be liable to compensate the rental provider (landlord) for lease breaking. The rental provider can apply to VCAT for an order that the renter pay compensation.

Fact Sheet 29

Fact Sheet 30 – Terminations of rental agreements in family violence

Victim-survivors of family violence or personal violence can make an application to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for an order terminating an existing rental agreement.

Fact Sheet 30