New funding expands services for renters

Tenants Victoria has been confirmed as the successful provider for 2 of the 4 statewide services under the Victorian Government’s new Victorian Renter Rights Program (VRRP), which is expected to help more than 25,000 renters annually.

Tenants Victoria has been confirmed as the successful provider for 2 of the 4 statewide services under the Victorian Government’s new Victorian Renter Rights Program (VRRP) – the Renting Central Service and the Victorian Renters Helpline.

The Renting Central Service provides training to renter support agencies, policy, advocacy, campaigns and media on behalf of Victorian renters, and legal support for complex renting matters.

The Victorian Renters Helpline, a statewide phone and web service, acts as the first point of contact for any Victorian renter seeking advice.

Tenants Victoria will also partner with Housing for the Aged Action Group, the provider of the Older Persons Housing Rights Service. Tenants Victoria will provide legal and non-legal advice and advocacy to older people who may struggle to access other renter services, or face additional barriers due to their age or housing circumstances.

Learn more about the funding on Consumer Affairs Victoria’s website: Victorian Renter Rights Program

Under the new program, Tenants Victoria will:

• Operate the Victorian Renters Helpline, a statewide phone and web service acting as the first point of contact for any Victorian renter seeking advice
• Coordinate referrals between the 17 local Renting Rights Service agencies
• Run the Renting Central Service, provide a specialist workers’ advice line, deliver statewide training and professional development for community workers, and maintain shared tools and resources for the sector
• Continue to lead on renter policy, advocacy, campaigns and media on behalf of the broader Renting Rights Service network
• Provide specialist legal advice through the Older Persons Housing Rights Service, in partnership with primary agency Housing for the Aged Action Group

Tenants Victoria CEO Jennifer Beveridge said the appointments reflect the organisation’s singular focus on Victorian renters, including by working to support other renter-focused agencies. This also builds on the momentum of recent rental law reforms.

‘New laws only help renters if there’s a strong, well-resourced support system behind them. This funding means we can keep building that system so that Victorian renters experience dignity living in safe, secure and affordable homes.’

Services under the new program are expected to begin in early 2027. Tenants Victoria’s current services continue as normal in the meantime.

The Victorian Renter Rights Program is supported by the Victorian Government.