Victoria restricts rent increase frequency to 12 months

Under all Victorian tenancy agreements (fixed-term and periodic) entered into on or after 19 June 2019, rent can only be increased once every 12 months, rather than at six-monthly intervals.

The rent must not be increased before the end of a fixed-term tenancy agreement, unless the terms of the agreement allow for this. 

Six-monthly increases will still be allowed for agreements entered into before 19 June 2019 that are:  

• existing fixed-term tenancy agreements of less than five years, and
• existing periodic (month-by-month) tenancy agreements. 

For all rent increases, landlords and property managers must use the updated notice of rent increase from the government's rent increases page.

Landlords and property managers will now have the option to provide the prescribed renting guide Renting a home: a guide for tenants electronically to tenants who have consented to receive information this way. Previously, they were required to provide the guide as a printed booklet. 

To provide the guide electronically they must:

1. ensure they have the tenant’s written consent to receive notices and other documents electronically. This can be included in the terms of their lease, or obtained with the Consent to electronic service of notices and other documents form, available from the renting guide page
2. send the tenant the following link: consumer.vic.gov.au/rentingguide

More than 130 reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 were passed in the Victorian Parliament in 2018.

Some were selected for early implementation this year, with the remaining reforms to be fully implemented by 1 July 2020. 

To help prepare for these changes, a new dedicated Changes to renting laws section is now available as a one-stop information source on:

• the early reforms that are already in effect
• stakeholder consultation 
• key reforms and their impact on tenants and landlords.    

The Victorian Government said it is working with industry and community groups to develop information and training materials to help them prepare for these changes.