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New sweeping rental reforms have begun in Victoria, including measures to crack down on rental bidding, prohibiting ‘no fault’ evictions, and other laws to protect tenants. Here’s what you should know.
Victoria has rolled out new rental reforms in a bid to protect tenants, cracking down on ‘no fault’ evictions, short notice periods, rental bidding, faulty smoke alarms, and properties that fail to meet minimum standards.
From today, 25 November, the suite of reforms made to the Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Act 2025 will apply to all rental providers, including landlords and property managers.
Ban on ‘no fault’ evictions
Under the new changes, rental providers cannot issue a notice to vacate the premises to a renter without a valid reason, including at the end of a fixed-term agreement.
At the end of a fixed lease, the rental arrangement will automatically become a month-to-month contract unless the landlord and tenant agree to a new fixed-term lease.
The landlord or agent can also issue a notice to vacate at the end of the lease, but must include a valid reason, such as the sale of the property, renovation, a breach of the agreement, or failure to pay.
Extension of notice periods for rent increases and notices to vacate
The new reforms will require agents and landlords to give renters 90 days’ notice for rent increases and for specific evictions, giving them more time to budget or move.
However, rental providers are still allowed to provide shorter notice when tenants are at fault, including for causing a nuisance, causing damage, or failing to keep the property clean.
Ban on all types of rental bidding
The new rental reforms also ban landlords and agents from accepting higher rent from prospective tenants or from accepting more than one month’s rent in advance.
Meeting minimum standards
As part of the new changes, rental providers must ensure that the property meets minimum standards at the time of advertising, not simply before a renter moves in.
Previously, rental providers were only required to conduct checks before a tenant moved in, but the new reforms will make it an offence to advertise a property that does not meet specific criteria.
The requirements for passing minimum standards include being mould-free, having sufficient fixed lighting in all rooms, being structurally sound, and having adequate ventilation.
Under further reforms to minimum standards on 1 December, agents and landlords must also ensure that all internal window coverings have secured cords.
Annual smoke alarm checks
To ensure tenants’ safety, rental providers will also be required to arrange annual smoke alarm safety checks by licensed professionals.
Previously, agents and landlords had to test smoke alarms annually, replace batteries if needed, and provide tenants with information on how to test them.
Protecting tenants’ information
Rental providers and their agents will also need to protect renters’ personal information from being misused.
Under the new reforms, agents and landlords will need to follow strict rules around the destruction and de-identification of tenants’ private information, and will be prohibited from disclosing information without consent.
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