What the New Victorian Rental Laws Mean for You

Victoria is introducing major changes to rental laws from 25 November 2025 (or earlier if proclaimed).

These reforms are designed to create a fairer, safer and more stable rental market — for both renters and rental providers (landlords).

At Woodards, we want to make sure our clients and communities understand what’s changing and how to prepare.

What’s Changing

• No-fault evictions banned
  Rental Providers will no longer be able to end a tenancy without a valid reason once the first fixed-term lease expires. Acceptable reasons include moving in, selling the property with vacant possession or major renovations — and evidence will be required. In short, Rental Providers will not be able to end a tenancy simply because a fixed term has expired.
• Rental bidding banned
  Agents and Rental Providers cannot advertise rent ranges or accept offers above the listed price. Rent must be fixed and transparent. This represents quite a change as renters regularly make offers above asking price in tight markets, which can no longer be accepted under this reform.
• 90-day notice periods
  Notice for rent increases or to vacate will increase from 60 to 90 days, giving renters more time to plan.
• Minimum property standards before advertising
  Properties must meet all 15 minimum standards before they’re listed for rent, not after Renters move in. This will mean that Rental Providers risk fines of up to $12,000 for simply advertising a property that fails to meet the requirements.
• Annual smoke alarm checks
  A professional smoke alarm safety check must be completed every 12 months, even for properties that were leased before 2021.
• Standardised rental application form & privacy rules
  A new statewide application form will be introduced, with stronger protections around how renter information is collected, used and stored. This has yet to be released.
• Stricter rent increase scrutiny
  Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) and VCAT will have more power to review and prevent excessive rent increases.
• Higher penalties
  Penalties for breaches — such as underquoting, rental bidding or advertising non-compliant properties — will increase to up to approximately $47,000 per offence.
   

What Will Also Come Later

• Energy efficiency upgrades, phased in 2025–2027
  More changes to come, including energy-efficient heating, cooling and hot water system standards, draft proofing and insulation to name a few. These will roll out through 2026/27.

Why These Changes Matter

For Renters:

• More stability, no more “end of lease without reason”
• More time to budget and plan (90-day notices)
• Safer, better-quality homes from day one
• Clearer and fairer application processes

For Rental Providers:

• Greater responsibility to ensure compliance
• No offers above advertising price suggests Rental Providers should higher target prices early in campaigns to avoid missing out on maximum returns
• Need to plan earlier for rent reviews and lease renewals
• Advertising a non-compliant property may result in fines for both the Rental Providers and the managing agent.
   

What Rental Providers Should Do Now

✔ Review your property, does it already meet minimum standards?
✔ Plan lease renewals and rent reviews at least 120 days before the lease ends.
✔ Budget for smoke alarm checks and maintenance.
✔ Talk to your property manager about insulation, heating and energy upgrades.
✔ Keep records,  transparency and documentation will matter more than ever.

What Renters Should Know

✔ You cannot be asked to offer more than the listed rent.
✔ You must receive at least 90 days’ notice for rent increases or if asked to vacate (unless there is serious misconduct).
✔ You have the right to a safe, functional home that meets minimum standards before you move in.
✔ If you have a dispute, RDRV and then VCAT will be available to help in most cases.

How Woodards Will Support You

At Woodards, we are already preparing for these changes. We will:

• Update our systems to use the new standard application form and privacy requirements
• Educate Rental Providers about their rights and responsibilities
• Ensure our team meets all training and professional development requirements
• Support our Rental Providers to plan ahead, not react after the deadline. 

Change can be challenging but it’s also an opportunity for better, fairer rentals across Victoria.

If you have any questions, our team is here to help guide you through it.