The Carroll Labor Government is backing renters – with new laws from today that end surprise bond claims, scrap application fees and make safety checks mandatory in every rental home.
They build on more than 150 reforms Labor has delivered to make renting fairer and safer.
No more surprise bond claims
Landlords must now tell renters before they claim against the bond and produce evidence – no proof, no claim.
Renters get the chance to check and dispute the claim instead of losing money they need for their next home.
No fee just to apply
Landlords and agents can no longer charge renters to apply. Apply for one rental or ten – it won’t cost a cent.
Safer homes
Gas and electrical safety checks are now required every two years for every rental property – both new leases and existing ones. This means faulty heaters or dodgy wiring should get picked up and fixed before they cause harm.
Landlords and rooming house operators must also keep records proving their property meets minimum standards, and hand them to Consumer Affairs Victoria on request.
A licensed gasfitter must check gas ventilation before any draughtproofing work starts – so sealing out the cold never seals in dangerous gas.
More on the way
From next year, rentals must meet new energy efficiency standards for heating, cooling, hot water, showerheads, ceiling insulation and draughtproofing.
The Renting Taskforce, now permanent, has already issued more than $900,000 in fines to dodgy landlords and agents.
Jess Wilson’s Liberal-One Nation Coalition and its $40 billion cuts plan would slash protections like these because they’re not on renters’ side.
As stated by Minister for Renters Tim Richardson
“Labor believes renting your home shouldn’t mean you’re treated like a second-class citizen.”
“We’ve already introduced more than 150 new renters rights reforms — this latest tranche means no surprise bond grabs, no fee to apply and a home that’s safe to live in.”
“Jess Wilson and her Liberal-One Nation coalition’s $40 billion cuts plan means less inspectors, less enforcement and more dodgy landlords and agents.”
