A word from our CEO

Too many renters remain under pressure - and their concerns are hitting the headlines. 

We've recently seen calls for a nationwide rent freeze which poses numerous complexities, not least the division of powers between the federal and state or territory governments. A more practical solution in our state, we believe, is to develop a ‘fairness formula’ for rent increases. 

Our system here in Victoria is focused on formal processes for rent increases, including a right to challenge them, but does not account for what is reasonable and affordable for the renter to pay. This month we've seen a surge in stressed people come to us, citing rent increases varying from $30 to $190 a week. 

It's time to put the issue of rent increases on the reform agenda. 

Jennifer Beveridge 
CEO, Tenants Victoria

Gawking landlord

Q: I’ve spotted my landlord regularly driving slowly by my home and having a gawk. They do it every week. Are they allowed to do this?

A: No! Renters have a right to ‘quiet enjoyment’, which means you should be able to peacefully enjoy your home without interruption by the landlord or real estate agent. If they want to inspect your home, they need to follow the laws in the Residential Tenancies Act. They cannot just turn up when they want to. They need a proper reason and need to give the correct written notice under the rental laws before they turn up.

See our Privacy and entry webpage for the circumstances when a landlord, or their agent, can come to your home and what notice they need to give you:

Canberra steps up

In remarks at the National Homelessness Conference in Canberra this month, federal Housing and Homelessness Minister Julie Collins (pictured) projected an increase in homelessness when updated census data comes out next year. In her formal speech, she reiterated the new government’s election pledges, which include creating a National Housing and Homeless Plan and establishing a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council to help develop and implement the plan. ‘Almost a decade of housing policy inaction at a federal level has left the new government with serious challenges,’ she said. ‘The work of fixing these challenges will not happen overnight. But this is not an excuse for inaction or an excuse to not be ambitious.’

Read the Minister's speech here.

Facebook Live Q&A

Got a burning question about renting? Here at Tenants Victoria we will mark the first day of spring tomorrow - and, hopefully, sunnier times - with the return of our popular Facebook Live Q&A.

Join us on our Facebook page on Thursday 1 September 2022 at 1pm for our all-about-renting live chat featuring our expert tenancy lawyer Georga Wootton and our Director of Community Engagement Farah Farouque. We’ll cover hot renting topics such as rent increases, privacy and entry, lease breaking and more! 

Champion for renters

Amy Frew has joined us in the newly created role of Managing Lawyer. Amy, who commenced this month, joins us from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), where she held key legal roles in Darwin and Alice Springs. In Melbourne, she has worked at the Human Rights Legal Centre and the Federation of Community Legal Centres. Amy has also previously worked in policy roles in the Victorian Government and, in 2014, was awarded the Chief Justice’s Medal for Excellence and Community Service. 

We're delighted to welcome Amy to our organisation where she will work closely with our Director of Client Services, Agata Wierzbowski.