Landlords and property managers in Victoria will soon face fines if renters are charged fees from third-party apps, as new laws are set to come into effect next week.
From March 31, a host of new protections for renters will come into force including a standard form for all rental applications, rules on what information can be asked of prospective tenants, a ban on third-party fees for applications and rent payments, and new guidelines on what constitutes an excessive rent increase.
Businesses found to have breached these tenant protection laws will face fines in excess of $12,000 while individuals face fines of $2,400.
Renters have long complained about being asked to pay fees to third-party platforms or applications when making their rental payments. Under existing Victorian rules housing providers are required to ensure renters have at least one fee-free payment method.
Announcing the changes, the Victorian Government says these reforms will make finding a rental “even fairer, faster and more affordable”.
“More and more Victorians are renting and only Labor is looking out for them – with new laws to protect their rights,” Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos said.
“These new laws will protect Victorians from unfair and excessive charges during the current cost of living crisis.”
The move comes after a range of other rental protections took effect in November, including a minimum 90 day notice period before a rent increase could be imposed.
Other changes included a ban on rental bidding, the outlawing of no-fault evictions and minimum standards for rentals.
At the time, Tenants Victoria, a non-profit advocacy group, welcomed the changes as the strongest renter protections Victoria has seen.
“This marks a major shift for Victoria’s almost 2 million renters. These reforms recognise that renters deserve security and stability in their homes,” Tenants Victoria CEO Jennifer Beveridge said.
