Rooming houses
This information is a guide and should not be used as a substitute for professional legal advice.
Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria now deals with some rental disputes instead of VCAT. While we update our website see more info at: www.rdrv.vic.gov.au
A rooming house is a building with rooms for rent where 4 or more people can live. The rooming house operator decides who lives at the property and usually has individual agreements with each resident for paying rent.
Rooming houses are legally required to be registered with the local council and meet official minimum standards.
Moving in
Know your rights when moving in – for example, the operator cannot charge more than 14 days rent in advance and must not discriminate against you.
For more on moving in, including what you should do and what information you should get when you move in, and how to check if the rooming house is registered, see our page about moving into a rooming house.
Living in a rooming house
You have legal rights as a resident of a rooming house. For example, the rooming house operator must give you 24-hour access, keep the property in good repair and respect your privacy.
For more information on living in a rooming house and how to protect your rights, see our page about living in a rooming house.
Shared rooms
Some rooming houses have shared rooms, where you either share with someone you choose, or you share with people the rooming house operator chooses.
When you apply to move into a rooming house, the operator must give you a notice telling you if you will be renting a room for yourself or a shared room.
If you’re in a shared room and they want to add a new person to your room, they must get your permission.
For more information on shared rooms and your rights, see our page about sharing rooms in rooming houses.
Duties and breaches
Rooming house operators and residents have duties under the law that must be followed. For example, the operator must carry out repairs when needed.
If you or the rooming house operator breach (do not follow) any duties, the other can give a ‘notice of breach of duty’ telling them to fix the problem and/or pay compensation.
For more information, see our page about duties and breaches in rooming houses.
Moving out
If you want to move out, you need to give the rooming house operator notice of your intention to vacate. If you move out without giving notice, or before the end of your notice period, the rooming house operator might ask you to pay rent to cover the notice period.
Find out more on our page about moving out of a rooming house.
Notices to vacate and eviction
Sometimes the rooming house operator wants you to move out. If a rooming house operator gives you a notice to vacate because they want to evict you, there are legal steps they must follow.
Getting a notice to vacate does not always mean that you must move out.
For more information, see our pages about notices to vacate and eviction and moving out of a rooming house.
Useful contacts
For free legal information, referrals and advice, call our Rooming House Priority Line on 1800 068 860. You can call if you are a rooming house resident or if you are supporting someone who lives in a rooming house.
Connects you with services that can help you deal with a crisis or urgent need, or to move if your rooming house closes. Download the contact details for the Community Connection Program services [Word 105 KB].
Free information and advice on rental processes and your rights as a renter. You can also make a formal complaint about your rooming house operator to Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Urgent accommodation if you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, escaping family violence, or need somewhere to stay after an emergency. Call 1800 825 955 or visit the website.
Free legal information plus help at court if you are eligible. Visit the website to find a community legal centre right for you.
Free legal advice and support if you are eligible. Also has online self-help tools – use Dear Landlord for written requests to your rooming house operator and Home of Your Own for understanding your rental rights and options if you are experiencing family violence.
Free information and advice if you are in financial hardship or experiencing family violence.
Free legal information plus legal advice and help at court if you are eligible.
Resolves disputes between residents and rooming house operators. VCAT is not a court but its decisions must be followed.
Resources
View our handy pocket guide on moving into, living in, and moving out of, a rooming house.
The law
The Residential Tenancies Act 1997 is Victoria’s main law for renting. It describes the rights and duties of renters and landlords (like rooming house operators) in numbered sections. See Part 3 of the Act for laws that specifically relate to rooming houses.
The Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 provide more detail and definitions, and specify updates to the Residential Tenancies Act.
The Residential Tenancies (Rooming House Standards) Regulations 2023 set out the privacy, safety, security and amenity standards in rooming houses.
Related pages
Duties and breaches (rooming houses)
Living in a rooming house
Moving in (rooming houses)
Moving out (rooming houses)
Notices to vacate and eviction
Sharing rooms (rooming houses)