Home | Commissioner for Residential Tenancies

The Commissioner
The Commissioner
- Meet the Commissioner
  Meet the Commissioner
  
  Learn about the Commissioner's experience in the housing sector.
- Strategic plan
  Strategic plan
  
  Sets out the Commissioner's vision, mission and approach. Download the Commissioner's strategic plan.
The rental sector
The rental sector
- About the private rental sector
  About the private rental sector
  
  Lists important government and community agencies in the renting sector. Provides a snapshot of the Victorian rental market.
- Key issues
  Key issues
  
  Lists the key issues raised with the Commissioner during consultations after her appointment.
- Victorian renting laws
  Victorian renting laws
  
  Defines the main legislation and regulations for the rental sector in Victoria.
- Where to get help
  Where to get help
  
  The Commissioner cannot provide renting advice for individuals. Select below the dropdown item best suits your renting problem or situation.
- Changes to renting laws
  Changes to renting laws
  
  Explains changes to renting laws and terminology, due to the passing of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018.
- The Law
  The Law
  
  The law that outlines the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in Victoria is called the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. The law is changing in Victoria.
- In the media
  In the media
  
  This section of the website has articles about the rental sector from the mainstream media
- Research
  Research
  
  Look here if you want to see the latest research about the rental sector in Victoria and Australia
Rental reform
Rental reform
- News and updates
  News and updates
  
  Get the latest updates including media articles, consultation opportunities, opinion pieces and other news.
- Engaging with stakeholders
  Engaging with stakeholders
  
  The Commissioner and her team will consult widely with renters, advocates and other stakeholders across the private rental sector to identify and act on systemic and community-wide issues.
- Strengthening renters' rights
  Strengthening renters' rights
  
  I will expose market practices and regulatory gaps that erode the rights of renters and I will progress opportunities to strengthen renters’ rights
- Renters exercising their rights
  Renters exercising their rights
  
  I will support improved dispute resolution processes and pursue opportunities to better enable renters to exercise their rights
- Renters understand their rights
  Renters understand their rights
  
  I will pursue opportunities to increase the knowledge and understanding by renters of their rights.
Contact us

The Commissioner for Residential Tenancies provides independent advice to the Victorian Government to help make renting fairer

What the Commissioner does

Tell your story to help the Commissioner expose poor renting practices and gaps in Victorian tenancy law so she can advocate to Government to strengthen renters' rights.

Tell us your story (External link)

If you need help with a specific renting problem there are services in the community that can help you. Here's who to contact.

The Commissioner is working towards the following outcomes:

Strengthening renters' rights

strengthen renters rights

Strengthening renters' rights

I will expose market practices and regulatory gaps that erode the rights of renters and I will progress opportunities to strengthen renters’ rights

Renters understand their rights

renters know understand rights

Renters understand their rights

I will pursue opportunities to increase the knowledge and understanding by renters of their rights.

Renters exercising their rights

renters exercise use their rights

Renters exercising their rights

I will support improved dispute resolution processes and pursue opportunities to better enable renters to exercise their rights

Latest news

Do you need to go to VCAT over a rental dispute?

4 August 2020

Do you need to go to VCAT over a rental dispute?

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) is making it a bit easier when you need to go to court about a rental dispute.

Are you living in a multi-dwelling property with shared facilities?

21 July 2020

Are you living in a multi-dwelling property with shared facilities?

Are you familiar with the latest advice on COVID-19 guidelines for multi-dwelling properties that have shared facilities?

New ANU research shows the impact of COVID-19 on renters.

13 July 2020

New ANU research shows the impact of COVID-19 on renters.

Researchers at the Centre for Social Research & Methods at the ANU has shown the impact of COVID-19 on tenants’ ability to pay their rent.