VIC - NEW RENTAL APPLICATION * New changes to the rental laws

Agents in VIC need to be advised the new application form needs to be used from 31.03.2026

New changes to the rental laws

The Residential Tenancies Amendment (Housing Statement Reform and Part 4A Site Agreements) Regulations 2025 introduce significant changes to rental laws in Victoria. While some rules took effect in late 2025, major new requirements for rental applications and site agreements roll out in early to mid-2026.

1. Major Changes for All Renters (Starting 31 March 2026)

The most immediate change for the general rental market is the introduction of a mandatory, standardized application form.

• Prescribed Application Form (Form 3A): Rental providers and agents must use this specific form for all applications. It is designed to limit the amount of personal information you are required to disclose.

• Restricted Information Requests: Providers can only ask for what is on the form. They cannot request:

  • Bank statements showing daily transaction history (you can now redact these).

  • Your bond history or details of past legal disputes with landlords.

  • Information on "protected attributes" (like ethnicity or gender) without a written reason.

• Identity & Finance Limits: Providers can request no more than two identity documents and two documents proving financial capacity.

• Ban on Third-Party Fees (from 31 March 2026): It is an offence for third-party "rent-tech" platforms to charge renters fees for submitting an application or paying rent. From 13 October 2026, this ban also applies to agents and rental providers (see section 5).

2. Rent Increases and Evictions (Currently in Effect)

Several protections were enacted on 25 November 2025:

• 90-Day Notice Period: For both rent increases and "notice to vacate" (eviction) notices, the minimum notice period has increased from 60 days to 90 days.

• Ban on No-Fault Evictions: Landlords can no longer end a lease at the end of a fixed term without a valid, prescribed reason (e.g., selling the property or moving in themselves).

• Total Ban on Rental Bidding: It is illegal for agents to solicit, invite, or even accept offers for rent higher than the advertised price.

3. Land Lease & Site Agreements (Starting 1 July 2026)

If you live in a land lease community (Part 4A park), specific reforms apply to your site agreements:

• Mandatory Site Agreement (Form 16A): Operators must use a new prescribed form that includes standard terms on repairs, park rules, and fees.

• 20-Day Consideration Period: You must receive a copy of a proposed site agreement at least 20 days before being asked to sign it.

• Pre-Contract Disclosure: Operators must provide detailed financial information, including worked examples of what your rent will cost after 1, 2, 5, and 10 years.

• Environmental Disclosures: Owners must disclose if the park has flooded in the last 5 years or is in a bushfire-prone area.

4. Safety and Maintenance Standards

• Smoke Alarms: Rental providers must now ensure annual smoke alarm safety checks are conducted for all rental properties, regardless of when the agreement started.

• Blind Cords: As of 1 December 2025, all rental properties must have safety anchors installed on internal window cords to prevent loops.

• Minimum Standards at Advertising: A property must meet all minimum health and safety standards before it is even advertised, not just by the move-in date. From 13 October 2026, rental providers must also keep records proving the property met the minimum standards when it was advertised or offered for rent and when the renter moved in, and must give these records to Consumer Affairs Victoria if asked.

5. Fees Agents & Rental Providers Cannot Charge (Starting 13 October 2026)

From 13 October 2026, it is an offence for an agent or rental provider to charge a renter or rental applicant a fee for:

• applying for a property

• background checks, credit checks or identity verification

• tenancy/rental history or tenancy database checks

• administrative costs

• failed or dishonoured rent payments

• paying rent (other than surcharges permitted under other laws)

Fines apply to individuals and companies. Agents must not pass on the cost of tenant checks (e.g. Equifax/TICA) to Victorian applicants or renters.

For more information, please refer to: https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/new-changes-to-the-rental-laws