New Regulations to ensure basic living standards in rental properties are to come into effect this year to make renting fairer for Victorians.
Minister for Consumer Affairs, Melissa Horne said the new rules would take effect on 29 March as part of more than 130 rental reforms the State is to introduce for residential tenancies to strengthen renters’ rights.
“With more than one in four people renting in Victoria, it’s crucial that basic amenities such as hot and cold water in the bathroom and laundry, functioning ovens, stovetops and sinks in the kitchen, a permanent – and working—heater in the living room, are available to all tenants,” Ms Horne said.
“These minimum standards are the things most people would reasonably expect in a house – and most rental properties already have them – but we are now enshrining these standards in law with new regulations,” she said.
“We are also increasing the ways in which renters can make their house feel like a home by setting out simple modifications they can make to their rental property.”
Ms Horne said renters would no longer need to ask permission to attach child safety devices; install picture hooks on walls; replace curtains; or increase the energy efficiency of the property with LED globes.
“Other modifications that a rental provider cannot unreasonably refuse include allowing the planting of a vegetable or herb garden, painting, securing gates and installing security systems and flyscreens,” the Minister said.
“The changes to the regulations have been made after carefully listening to feedback from over 700 written submissions as part of the public consultation process on the initial proposed regulations,” she said.
Ms Horne said landlords would also benefit from the reforms through stronger accountability for renters, clearer obligations and modern regulation and processes.
