Victoria rental reforms start today with new rules for renters

Victoria’s latest round of rental reforms took effect on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

The changes cover rental applications, fees, and rent disputes.

Consumer Affairs Victoria set out the new measures. It listed a prescribed rental application form, limits on applicant data, a ban on third-party fees, and extra factors for rent increase investigations.

What changed on 31 March 2026

The centrepiece is a new standard form for rental applications.

"Rental providers and their agents must use the prescribed form for rental agreement applications," Consumer Affairs Victoria said.

The form is mandatory under the regulations. Consumer Affairs Victoria said it is set out in regulations and published an official Residential Rental Application form for use from 31 March 2026.

From 31 March 2026, rental providers and their agents must use the prescribed form for rental applications.

— Consumer Affairs Victoria, ‘Applying for a property’ guidance

The new application rules also narrow the information landlords and agents can request.

Consumer Affairs Victoria said a provider or agent "can only ask for the information set out in the prescribed rental application form" and that it is limited to what is necessary to confirm identity and capacity to pay the advertised rent.

Under the published guidance, providers and agents can request no more than two documents from a set list to confirm ability to pay rent, and no more than two identity documents from a set list.

A separate change targets fees charged through rental platforms and payment technology.

"Only rental providers, agents and banks will be able to charge a renter fees for applications or rent payments," Consumer Affairs Victoria said.

Third party businesses will be banned from charging these fees. While rental providers and agents may still use third party platforms, it will be an offence for the businesses that run these to charge a renter fees.

— Consumer Affairs Victoria, ‘New changes to the rental laws’

Banks are exempt under banking laws. Tenants Victoria’s guidance on rental apps says the ban covers charges linked to applying for a property, background checks, credit checks, identity verification, failed payments and paying rent, subject to limited exceptions under other laws.

From 31 March 2026, any person who owns or runs a third-party business that operates a website or technology, such as a rental app, for rental applications and rent payments must not charge you a fee for applying for a rental property … or paying rent.

— Tenants Victoria, ‘Rental apps’

Rent increases: a wider test for ‘excessive’ rises

The reforms also expand what decision-makers can consider when a renter challenges a rent increase as excessive. VCAT and the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria can consider additional factors when deciding whether a proposed rent increase is excessive, Consumer Affairs Victoria said.

In its published guidance on challenging rent increases, Consumer Affairs Victoria lists factors including comparable rents in the same locality, the size of the proposed increase compared with current rent, CPI for Melbourne, rent rises over the previous 24 months, the state of repair and general condition of the premises, and whether relevant infringement notices or orders have been issued for breaches of rental laws.

Consumer Affairs Victoria describes its rent assessment service as free. "It is a free service," the guidance says. It says renters must request an assessment within 30 days of receiving a written notice of rent increase. The process can move from a rent assessment report to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria and then to VCAT, where the tribunal can set a maximum rent for a period of time.

Reforms already in force, and what is coming next

The 31 March changes sit inside a larger package that has been rolling out since late 2025. Consumer Affairs Victoria lists reforms in effect from 25 November 2025 including the ban on ‘no fault’ evictions, a 90-day notice period for rent increases and some notices to vacate, and a ban on rental bidding and offers above the advertised rent.

Tenants Victoria’s summary of the 25 November 2025 reforms says fixed-term agreements roll into periodic leases unless the parties sign a new fixed term agreement or the provider issues a notice to vacate for a valid reason such as sale, renovation, or breach of the agreement. It also says "no-fault" evictions at the end of a fixed-term lease are banned.

Consumer Affairs Victoria’s timeline lists further changes from 13 October 2026, including strengthened bond claims that require evidence and advance notice to renters, record-keeping obligations to show minimum standards compliance when a property is advertised or offered, and mandatory gas and electrical safety checks every two years.

Who is affected

Renters applying for a home in Victoria face a more standardised application process, with published limits on the documents and personal information landlords and agents can request. Renters using rental platforms for applications or payments face new protections against third-party fees.

Landlords and property managers face new compliance obligations around the form used to collect applicant information and the way third-party platforms are used. The Real Estate Institute of Victoria said "from 31 March 2026, rental providers and their agents must use the prescribed form for rental agreement applications," and told members the form would be made available through its Vicforms platform.

Implementation issues and early reaction

The reforms put pressure on rental application and payment technology providers, since the offence applies to third-party businesses that demand or receive prohibited fees. Tenants Victoria’s guidance frames the changes as part of a wider set of rules that already give renters "the legal right to pay your rent without additional charges".

The REIV has flagged the need for property managers to stay across evolving compliance requirements as further reforms commence. In a November 2025 update to members on the rental regulations, the institute described the changes as "major reforms that every property manager must understand" and promoted webinars on what had changed and what was coming next.

No court challenge to the 31 March 2026 measures was identified in Victorian government guidance published ahead of commencement. Consumer Affairs Victoria has directed renters and providers to its dispute resolution pathways, including Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria and VCAT, for conflicts over rent increases and other issues.