New rental laws came into effect on 29 March 2021.
The law changes expand the rights and responsibilities of renters and rental providers (landlords) and will make renting in Victoria fairer and safer.
The changes span the lifecycle of a rental agreement – from before you sign a rental agreement until after the agreement ends. You can learn more about all of them with our summaries of all the new laws below. The summaries have been categorized to make it easier for you to learn about the changes that affect you.
Summary of changes
Note: If you are seeking more detailed information on the laws, please view the detailed reference guides on Prepare for rental changes: resources for rental providers.
COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Transitional Regulations 2021
The COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Transitional Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) commenced on 28 March 2021. The Regulations provide for transitional matters arising from the repeal of Part 16 (COVID-19 temporary measures) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
Part 16 was temporarily enacted under the COVID-19 (Emergency Measures) Act 2020 with the purpose to temporarily change the operation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Part 16 provides for an eviction moratorium for residential tenancies and supporting measures to mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19 on tenants and landlords.
The Regulations facilitate transition out of the eviction moratorium and provide for the winding up of the Residential Tenancies Dispute Resolution Scheme.
Residential Tenancies (Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018) Transitional Regulations 2021
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018 commenced on 29 March 2021, making over 130 amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
The Residential Tenancies (Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018) Transitional Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) were developed to ensure a smooth transition into the new rental laws for Victorians.
The Regulations commenced on 29 March 2021 and will expire on 19 June 2021.
The Regulations provide for the renewed possession order heard between 29 March 2021 and 29 March 2023, applications for possession orders made between 29 March 2021 and 26 October 2021, and terminations under the National Rental Affordability Scheme.
Residential Tenancies Amendment Regulations 2021
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) have been created to support the operation of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018. They commenced on 29 March 2021.
The Regulations supplement the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 through minor amendments to provide clarity on the definition of Temporary Crisis Accommodation, prescribe the standard form to be used for written periodic residential rental agreements, amend the systems of rating prescribed for the energy efficiency of a non-ducted air conditioner or heat pump, and correct details relating to standards referenced within the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021.
