Out now: our annual report 2024-25

We launched our annual report for the 2024-25 financial year amid another tough 12 months for many Victorian renters in a tight rental market marked by low vacancy rates and high rents.

‘We remained focused on helping Victorian renters to live securely and comfortably in their homes and our dedication to supporting and informing renters on their rights continues unabated. Yet for too many people renting is not comfortable or secure,’ our CEO, Jennifer Beveridge, said in the annual report.

‘Throughout the year we also continued our strong and evidence-based advocacy to government for further reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, advocacy that is always grounded in the evidence base that comes from the work of our multidisciplinary teams to support renters and understand their needs … These reforms reflect Tenants Victoria’s evidence-based advocacy, informed by the experiences of renters who contact us every day,’ Ms Beveridge said.

The reforms the Victorian Government legislated for or implemented included:

• Ending no-reason notices to vacate
• Extending the time period for notices of proposed rent increases, and for many notices to vacate, from 60 days to 90 days
• Banning all rental bidding
• Announcing a portable bond scheme and stricter evidence requirements for landlords claiming bond money
• Launching Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV), a free service run by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) that helps resolve rental disputes early, without needing to go to a formal VCAT hearing

‘Tenants Victoria worked closely with VCAT and the RDRV team to ensure the model responds to renters’ needs. This is especially important in a tight market where renters can feel reluctant to assert their rights,’ Ms Beveridge said. ‘We will continue collaborating with RDRV to strengthen its approach.’

Other reforms allow new factors for deciding if a rent increase is excessive. ‘Tenants Victoria has long argued for the adoption of a ‘fairness formula’ for rent increases. We are consulting with government … to ensure that rent increases are fair, predictable and reasonable,’ Ms Beveridge said.

In 2024-25 we expanded our Client Services Team with the addition of social workers, complementing our lawyers, financial counsellors, and Renter Rights Officers through the new Renter Support Hub. We also welcomed more volunteers and pro bono lawyers.

We assisted more than 7000 renters, of whom:

• 23% lived in regional Victoria
• 5% identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• 65% were experiencing financial disadvantage

The top issues those renters contacted us about were:

• Urgent repairs
• Notices to vacate
• Renter’s compensation claim
• Bonds
• Lease-breaking

We designed and launched changes to our website that made it simpler for renters to explore it and connect with the information and services they need.

For example, ‘smart navigation’ on the home page guides renters to information based on their renting situation, such as private rentals or caravan parks, and topic pages are easier to scan and understand.

During the year, the most visited pages were about:

• Ending your lease
• Lease-breaking
• Notices to vacate
• Rental home is being sold
• Moving out