Following her appointment, the Commissioner consulted widely to identify key issues affecting renters in Victoria. Some of the key issues raised were:
- discrimination against particular groups of renters applying for a property to rent
- the poor condition of some properties at the start of a tenancy
- getting repairs to the property during a tenancy
- the right to modify a property - essential for some renters - to make a house feel like a home
- evictions of disadvantaged renters
- overcrowding and the rights of renters in illegal rooming houses
- renters not understanding or exercising their rights to take action to resolve disputes, or fearing the consequences if they do
- renters not attending hearings at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The Commissioner will initially focus on how the key issues affect renters in:
- specialist disability accommodation
- community housing
- student accommodation
- rooming houses
- caravan and residential parks.
The Commissioner will also take an interest in implementation of the rental reforms.
At the end of each year the Commissioner will publish a summary of the systemic and community-wide issues identified, and the action taken.