Victorian landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants without valid reasons as part of sweeping reforms to rental laws announced by the state government.
The legislation, set to be introduced to parliament by the end of 2024, aims to provide greater security for the growing number of renters across the state.
Consumer Affairs Minister Gabrielle Williams announced that landlords will still maintain the right to evict tenants for legitimate reasons, such as failure to pay rent, property damage, or if the owner intends to move in.
The reforms also include significant changes to lease-breaking penalties and additional protections for renters.
“It is about making sure that we are providing that growing number of renters in our community the benefit of a safe, secure and fit-for-purpose home,” Ms Williams told AAP.
The new laws will cap the cost of breaking a rental agreement, with proposed limits of one week’s rent for each remaining month, up to a maximum of four weeks.
Additional measures include banning fees for rent processing and background checks, while also introducing penalties for making unfounded bond claims without evidence.
Tenants Victoria managing lawyer Georga Wootton welcomed the changes, saying they would provide much-needed relief for renters.
“For a lot of renters, we hold that burden, we hold that stress as we sign up to a new lease, wondering are be going to be the same position a year from now,” Ms Wootton told AAP.
Victoria joins several other states in implementing these protections, with NSW recently passing similar laws, while South Australia and the ACT have already banned no-grounds evictions for both periodic and fixed-term tenancies.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity we have now to remove that burden,” Ms Wootton said.
