What Are the New Victorian Rental Laws in 2026, and What Do Melbourne Tenants and Small Landlords Need to Do?

From 25 November 2025, Victoria’s renter reforms banned no-fault evictions, banned all types of rental bidding, extended rent-increase and certain notice-to-vacate periods to 90 days, and required rental properties to meet minimum standards before being advertised. From 31 March 2026, rental providers and agents must use the prescribed rental application form and can only ask for information set out in that form. New rental energy-efficiency standards are phased in from 1 March 2027, with efficient electric cooling required in the main living area of all rental homes by 1 July 2030. Many common disputes now start with Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria before escalating to VCAT.

Vic Rental Law Changes 2026: Tenant Protections

The new Victorian rental law changes mean a rental provider can no longer issue a notice to vacate without a valid reason, even at the end of a fixed-term agreement. When a fixed-term lease ends, it generally becomes a periodic lease unless both parties agree to a new fixed term or the rental provider gives a valid notice to vacate.

Valid grounds still include sale of the property, major renovations, the owner or a family member moving in, or renter breach. For landlords, this means notices must be accurate, documented and defensible. For renters, it means “end of lease” alone is no longer enough.

Rental bidding is also banned. Agents and rental providers cannot accept offers above the advertised fixed rent, and they cannot accept more than one month’s rent in advance. This builds on existing rules designed to stop renters being pressured into competing beyond the advertised price.

From 31 March 2026, rental providers and agents must use the prescribed residential rental application form. They can only ask for the information listed in that form, such as identity, rental history and capacity to pay the advertised rent.

Landlord Obligations in Victoria 2026

Rental providers must now give 90 days’ notice for rent increases and certain notices to vacate. Rent can still usually only be increased once every 12 months, and renters can challenge increases they believe are excessive through Consumer Affairs Victoria and RDRV. Forge’s guide to Victoria rent increases and Form 3A rules explains how these notice and documentation rules work in practice.

A property also cannot be advertised unless the rental provider or agent reasonably believes it meets Victoria’s rental minimum standards. These standards cover 15 categories, including bathrooms, electrical safety, locks, mould and damp, structural soundness, ventilation, windows, window coverings and heating.

The heating standard has applied to relevant new agreements since 29 March 2023 and generally requires a fixed, energy-efficient heater in the main living area. From 1 December 2025, all corded internal window coverings must also have an anchor installed to secure cords and stop loose loops forming.

Rental providers and agents must arrange annual smoke alarm safety checks for all rental agreements. From 13 October 2026, additional reforms will require records showing compliance with rental minimum standards, stronger bond-claim evidence, and gas and electrical safety checks every two years.

Minimum Standards Rental Apartment Vic: The 2027–2030 Energy Phase-In

The new minimum energy-efficiency standards for Victorian rental homes begin on 1 March 2027. They apply in stages, so small landlords should plan upgrades rather than wait for a lease change or urgent repair.

From 1 March 2027, heating and hot-water systems that reach end of life must be replaced with efficient electric systems, such as reverse-cycle air conditioning or heat-pump hot water. At the start of a new lease, or when a lease converts to periodic, rental homes must also have 4-star showerheads and cooling in the main living area.

From 1 March 2027, ceiling spaces with no insulation must be upgraded by an accredited installer at the start of a new lease or conversion to periodic. From 1 July 2027, external doors, windows and wall vents must have draughtproofing installed. From 1 July 2030, efficient electric cooling must be installed in the main living area of all rental homes, whether or not a new lease has started.

Exemptions may apply where compliance is impractical or unusually costly, such as some apartment buildings with shared ceiling space or centralised heating and hot-water systems.

The Victorian Energy Upgrades program can help offset some upgrade costs, including reverse-cycle air conditioning, heat-pump hot water, draughtproofing and showerheads. Solar Victoria also offers solar rebates for rental properties, including a rebate of up to $1,400 and an interest-free loan option for eligible rental providers.

Practical Example

A 1990s Docklands one-bedroom apartment with a gas wall furnace and an old electric storage hot-water unit may not need immediate replacement just because the rules have changed. But if the heating or hot-water system reaches end of life after 1 March 2027, the replacement will generally need to be an efficient electric alternative.

If that same apartment is newly leased after 1 March 2027, the owner may also need to check whether the main living area has compliant cooling, whether showerheads meet the 4-star standard, and whether insulation or draughtproofing obligations are triggered.

What Tenants Should Do Now

Renters should check the advertised property against the minimum standards before applying or signing. The most important items to look for are secure locks, working heating, ventilation, mould or damp issues, window coverings, safe blind cords and signs of structural problems.

When applying, renters should expect the standard application form and should not be asked for information outside the prescribed form. If a rent increase looks excessive, renters can request a rent assessment and, where needed, take the issue to RDRV for rent-increase disputes.

Renters who need accessibility changes should also understand the difference between minor changes, consent-based alterations and more substantial modifications. For ramps, bathroom access, grab rails or step-free entry planning, it may be worth getting practical advice from specialists such as Mobility Access Modifications before asking the rental provider for approval or pricing works.

What Small Landlords Should Do Now

Small landlords should treat 2026 as an audit year. Start with the current minimum standards, then map the 2027–2030 energy upgrades against lease dates, likely appliance end-of-life timing and owners corporation constraints.

The practical checklist is simple: confirm smoke alarms are checked annually, secure blind cords, keep evidence of heating and minimum-standard compliance, review rent-increase templates, stop using non-compliant application processes, and plan future upgrades before an urgent breakdown forces a rushed decision.

For investors managing tax and compliance at the same time, Forge’s guide to Victorian tax changes and property holding costs is useful background, especially where higher compliance costs are being assessed against yield.

Where a Property Manager Fits In

Agencies such as Forge Real Estate, working across Melbourne CBD, Docklands and St Kilda Road, can audit rental properties against current and upcoming standards, including smoke alarms, blind-cord safety, heater compliance, minimum-standard advertising rules and future energy-efficiency upgrades.

A good property manager’s role is not just collecting rent. In 2026, it is also translating notices, rent reviews, repair obligations, application rules and RDRV processes into plain language for both renters and rental providers. That reduces avoidable disputes, protects renters’ rights and helps small landlords stay compliant as the rules continue to phase in.

Forge Real Estate Melbourne can help you blueprint your future by finding the perfect blue-chip property where your lifestyle needs and investment goals converge.

📞 Phone: (03) 91003633

✉️ Email: info@forgeproperty.com.au

🌐 Website: www.forgerealestate.com.au

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