Our annual report 2025-26

Our annual report for 2025-26 is out now. This year saw reforms we have long advocated for become a reality, creating stronger protections for many renters and a fairer experience when applying for rental properties.

‘This year delivered significant positive changes for renters, with new laws strengthening renters’ rights and minimum standards for rental properties. Tenants Victoria has campaigned and worked with government over many years to achieve these reforms, and it was rewarding to see them enshrined in law,’ said our Board Chair, Serge Sardo.

We also welcomed the important appointment of Victoria’s first Minister for Renters that recognises the significant pressures facing Victorians who rent their home and the need for dedicated leadership to address these challenges.

Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria

Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) launched in June 2025 to help renters resolve disputes early, without the need for a formal VCAT hearing.

During 2025-26, we monitored how RDRV was working for renters and worked alongside the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on further improvements to this important new way of navigating disputes.

Services to renters

Demand for renter support services has grown substantially, and as more renters sought assistance, we needed to adapt our service to reflect the range of support renters need.

Throughout the year, we assisted over 10,000 renters through our renter support phone line, repairs clinic, and our legal assistance, financial counselling, rooming house outreach and social work services.

• 7,530 renters accessed help and information through our phone and web chat service
• 1,074 renters received legal advice, assistance and representation
• 491 renters experiencing or at risk of financial difficulty received financial counselling
• 151 renters were supported by our social workers
• 60 rooming house residents were supported through our outreach program
• 1,192 renters learnt about their rights and options on repairs, compensation and bonds

Online information and support

Our website provides free, timely and practical information to help renters understand their rights and options. This year we published 64 new web pages, a new webpage for renters affected by disasters, and videos for renters in community languages.

We also developed a Renter Referral Tool, which will be piloted over the next 12 months, to help community workers connect renters with the most appropriate service faster.

Building the sector

We engaged with community leaders, strengthened the capability of community legal centres and continued to build partnerships across the sector.

We delivered 19 training sessions attended by more than 500 sector workers, and our Community Worker Tenancy Service delivered 640 services to more than 300 organisations.

Looking ahead

This year was an important milestone as we reflected on our previous strategic plan and developed our new Strategic Plan 2026-2031, setting a shared vision and priorities to guide our work into the future.

Over the next 5 years, we will continue to drive higher standards for fairer renting across Victoria, as the centre of excellence that connects renters to support and shares insights and expertise with government, rental providers and organisations.

‘We remain committed to helping Victorian renters experience dignity. Our dedication to supporting renters and promoting awareness of their rights remains unwavering. For too many Victorians, renting remains unaffordable and insecure, furthering the need for continued reform and investment,’ said Tenants Victoria CEO, Jennifer Beveridge.

Read our annual report: Annual report 2025-26