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Civil Law Victoria Residential Leasing Residential Tenancies in Victoria

Residential Tenancies in Victoria

Updated on Jan 12, 2023 • 4 min read • 655 views • Copy Link

Michelle Makela

Published in May 29, 2015 • Updated on Jan 12, 2023 • 4 min read • 655 views

Residential Tenancies in Victoria

A residential tenancy exists when a lessor (a landlord) and a lessee (tenant) enter into an agreement to lease premises in which the tenant will reside for a period of time. There are numerous pieces of legislation that affect residential tenancies in Victoria. The most important is the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 and the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1998 which contain the majority of rights and duties of tenants, landlords (lessors) and agents. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal provides a full list of legislation here. Both the Act and the Regulations also cover agreements to reside in a caravan park, and agreements to reside in a room within a rooming house.

Rights and Obligations of Landlords and Tenants

Many tenants are not aware of their rights when renting a residential property. Division 5 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 sets out the rights and obligations of both landlords and tenants. Tenants’ obligations include: refraining from using the premises for any illegal purpose, avoiding damage, and giving notice of any damage to the premises to the landlord. The landlord’s obligations include: allowing the tenant to have quiet enjoyment of the premises, maintaining the premises, and ensuring that any water devices which need replacing have an A rating. Consumer Affairs Victoria provides information for both tenants and lessors regarding the process of renting at the beginning, during or at the end of a lease or residency.

Types of residential tenancy disputes

Common residential tenancy disputes include disputes regarding the refund of bond, the payment of rent, repairs of the rental property, service charges including water and electricity and termination of the tenancy.

It is also common for either a landlord or a tenant to claim that the other party has breached its obligations under Division 5 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. An example is where a tenant claims the landlord has breached its obligation to give the tenant quiet enjoyment of the premises by accessing the premises without giving the requisite notice.

What to do when a residential tenancy dispute arises

As with most types of disputes, provided it is safe and feasible to do so you should attempt to settle your residential tenancy dispute by negotiating with the opposing party. Settling a matter without resorting to the court or tribunal system is quicker, cheaper and may preserve relationships between parties. Consumer Affairs Victoria offers a specialist conciliation service for some residential accommodation issues. This service will try to facilitate a resolution between the parties by providing an impartial and informal service that helps the parties to identify the issues and explore options for a resolution. If this conciliation cannot settle the dispute, the matter may be taken to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Consumer Affairs Victoria can also issue infringement notices against people who breach certain provisions of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. The party receiving the infringement notice can pay the fine without admitting guilt, and the matter will then finalise rather than proceeding to court. This is beneficial for the infringing party as the fines are less than the maximum penalties that courts can impose. Consumer Affairs Victoria lists the penalties here.

Hearing disputes at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) is mandated to hear residential tenancy disputes. The residential tenancies division deals with disputes between tenant and landlord, rooming house owner and rooming house renter, Director of Housing and public housing tenants, and caravan park owners and caravan park residents. VCAT cannot hear neighbourhood disputes or disputes between tenants (tenant vs tenant). It also has a jurisdictional limit of $10,000, meaning that it cannot hear or determine a claim for compensation or for money owing under a tenancy agreement that exceeds that amount.

Commencing proceedings at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

If you wish for VCAT to hear your residential tenancy dispute, you must file a residential tenancy dispute application form. There are five different application forms depending on your personal circumstances, although the great majority of situations will require the General Application Form. This form must be accompanied by all the evidence and information you intend to use in the hearing. You can either lodge the application at VCAT and then serve a copy on the respondent (the opposing party) within seven days, or serve it on the respondent first and then lodge it at VCAT within seven days. Respondents can either defend themselves at the VCAT hearing, or they can file a counterclaim. Note that you must pay a fee when you make an application at VCAT.

Published in

May 29, 2015

Michelle Makela

National Practice Manager

Michelle Makela is a Legal Practice Director at Go To Court Lawyers. She holds a Juris Doctor, a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and a Master of Criminology. She was admitted to practice in 2006. Michelle has over 15 years experience in the legal industry, working across commercial litigation, criminal law, family law and estate planning.

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Michelle Makela

National Practice Manager

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Michelle Makela

Residential Tenancies in Victoria

Rights and Obligations of Landlords and Tenants

Types of residential tenancy disputes

What to do when a residential tenancy dispute arises

Hearing disputes at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

Commencing proceedings at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

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Michelle Makela

Michelle Makela