New rental law also bans rental bidding and extends notice periods
Victoria has passed a new rental law that will prohibit landlords from evicting tenants without a valid reason and ban rental bidding.
The legislation, approved in the state’s Upper House, prevents landlords from terminating fixed-term or periodic leases without just cause. It also prohibits landlords from seeking or accepting offers above the advertised rent.
Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Bill 2024 passed Parliament and will now go to the Governor for royal assent https://t.co/OojrUC7y8y #springst
— Parliament of Victoria (@VicParliament) March 6, 2025
The bill was introduced by Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri (pictured above), who said the changes would provide renters with the kind of security that they “just haven’t been able to imagine so far.”
Under the reforms, tenants will also be granted more notice before vacating a property, with the minimum period increasing from 60 days to 90 days. Rental application forms will be standardised to protect tenants from having to disclose sensitive personal information. In addition, landlords will no longer be allowed to charge hidden fees for rent payments, including those applied through third-party platforms.
“I think there’s a real awareness among renters now about how much better their rights could be,” de Vietri said. “For too long, renters have been ignored by politicians and laws have been made in favour of landlords and property investors. Renters are now on the political agenda.”
Despite the stricter rules for landlords, the legislation retains provisions allowing evictions in cases of illegal activity, non-payment of rent, property damage, or if the owner intends to move in, sell, or undertake major repairs.
The reforms follow a similar move in New South Wales last year. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan initially proposed ending no-grounds evictions in October 2024. The implementation date for the new laws has yet to be confirmed.
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