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Renting

If you rent a place to live, you are known as the 'tenant' and the owner of the property is known as the 'landlord'. Often an owner will employ a real estate agent to manage the rental property for them.

There are laws about renting property, including tenants’ and owners’ rights and responsibilities. These laws are set out in a booklet called Renting a home: a guide for landlords and tenants. A landlord or their agent must give a copy of this guide to tenants on or before the day they move in. The guide is also available on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website (link below).

A tenancy agreement can be written or verbal. The agreement can be for a fixed term (often six or 12 months) or periodic (from month to month). If the agreement is in writing it is known as a 'lease', and tenancy laws require it to be on a form printed for this purpose.

It is important to read and understand your lease agreement before signing.

You should pay your rent on time and always get a receipt when you pay rent, to avoid disputes about payment.

More information

Renting – frequently asked questions

Housing complaints

Housing – frequently asked questions

How we can help

Call Victoria Legal Aid’s (VLA) Legal Information Service for free information over the phone about the law and how we can help you with your legal problem. You can speak to a legal information officer in English or ask for an interpreter. Phone (03) 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers), Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.

VLA’s other free legal services include:

  • advice at VLA offices and other locations across Victoria
  • lawyers who are on ‘duty’ to help at many courts and tribunals.

For some matters we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.

To find out more about any of our legal services see What we do.

Who else can help?

Tenants Union of Victoria

The Tenants Union of Victoria provides advice, assistance and advocacy for tenants of private and public residential properties and residents of rooming houses and caravan parks in Victoria.

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV)

Consumer Affairs Victoria has information for tenants and landlords, including a step-by-step ‘Solve a rental problem’ guide. You can also call CAV on 1300 558 181 (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday).

Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria

The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria has a free telephone service that will work with you to try to resolve your dispute. The centre will talk about your problem with you, discuss options, suggest negotiation strategies and organise mediation, if required.

Call (03) 9603 8370 or 1800 658 528 (country callers). You can also use the self-help tool on the disputeinfo website.

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s Residential Tenancies List

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s Residential Tenancies List can try to solve disputes between landlords/agents and tenants.