Two reforms to rental laws come into effect on 19 June. They focus on:
- enabling landlords to give tenants Renting a home: a guide for tenants in electronic form, instead of a printed guide
- restricting rent increases to no more than once every 12 months, to better reflect established practices in the rental market. Landlords could previously increase the rent every six months.
The reforms are among 130 passed by the Victorian Parliament last September under the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2018.
The reforms increase protection for tenants, while ensuring landlords can still manage their properties. They will come into effect in stages. To learn more, view our Changes to renting laws section.
Renting guide can be given electronically
From 19 June, landlords may give tenants Renting a home: a guide for tenants in electronic form, if the tenant has given written consent to receive notices and other documents this way. Previously, landlords were required to give tenants the guide in printed form.
If the tenant has consented, landlords can email the tenant the following link, where they can download the most up-to-date copy of the guide: consumer.vic.gov.au/rentingguide.
Renting a home: a guide for tenants is the approved summary of tenants’ and landlords’ rights and duties under a lease (tenancy agreement). Landlords must give their tenants a copy of this guide at the start of a new tenancy.
For more information and to download the guide, view our Renters guide page.
Changes to rent increases
In leases entered into on or after 19 June, landlords must not increase the rent more than once in any 12-month period. Previously, landlords could increase the rent at intervals of six months.
Leases that commenced before 19 June are not affected by this change.
Note: Landlords must not increase the rent before the end of a fixed-term lease, unless the terms of the lease allow for this.
For more information: