A word from our CEO

In the COVID era, it’s been tough going for too many renters. 

A year ago, the Victorian Government implemented the most protective legal framework for renters you can arguably find nationwide. Notably, the laws were conceived before the pandemic struck. Today, rent arrears are still the main cause for the issuing of ‘notices to vacate’ and subsequent evictions. Meanwhile, the tribunal meant to adjudicate most rental disputes, VCAT, is substantially backlogged.
 
'Minimum standards' for rented homes – such as the provision of a working toilet and the absence of mould – are now in place. Yet we know from inquiries to our advice lines that not all renters are aware of the new expectations and, more disturbingly, not all landlords are meeting the basics required of them.

Beyond the letter of the law, and in the pandemic's long shadow, much more work remains to embed and enforce rental law reforms in our community.

Jennifer Beveridge 
CEO, Tenants Victoria

Wake up to a new minimum standard!

A ‘minimum standard’ for window coverings applies to renters who move into new properties from now on. 

From 29 March onwards, any home offered for rent must have curtains or blinds fitted to each window in any room that is likely to be used as a bedroom or living area. Moreover, the curtain or blind must be able to be opened and closed, reasonably block light and provide reasonable privacy. 

For more information visit our minimum standards page.

Perspective: tenancy reforms

In a valuable contribution, the state's peak body for social services, VCOSS, consulted workers providing financial counselling, homelessness prevention, tenancy advocacy and other social assistance to get a sense of how renters are faring after key rental reforms. The workers' on-the ground insights reveal ‘a mixed bag’, confirms VCOSS policy officer Karen Taranto (pictured).
Read more.

Federal Budget forgets renters (again)

"The best way to support people renting a house is to help them buy a house.”

So said Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week promoting a mortgage support program as a centrepiece of the Federal Budget. 

Yet housing affordability bites hardest in our community for those whose modest Australian dream is a safe, secure and affordable rented home. About 30 per cent of low-income private renters don't even have $500 saved for emergencies, much less a home loan deposit, leading housing researcher Dr Chris Martin reminded us this week.

Housing affordability for renters needs to be addressed centrally and that's why we're part of the sector's Everybody's Home national campaign pushing for signification commonwealth interventions. Read the campaign's budget analysis.

Social housing

We’ve joined with colleague organisations to lead the tenancy legal service response to the interim report of Victoria's Social Housing Regulation Review. Our joint submission strongly backs a new social housing dispute resolution body. We suggest this should take the form of a new role such as a Social Housing Ombudsman or Commissioner or, alternatively, that the Victorian Ombudsman’s powers include an expanded social-housing complaints-handling function. 

Learn more.