Sam Hibbins to ask the Minister for Consumer Affairs —
(346) My constituency question is for the Minister for Consumer Affairs, and I ask on behalf of the near two-thirds of Prahran constituents who rent: what is the government doing to stop unlimited rent rises for renters in Prahran? The government’s housing statement has not included rent controls for renters. They are struggling terribly with the skyrocketing cost of living. They are forced to pay exorbitant rates for often substandard properties. Many live with constant worry and stress that a further rent rise will push them to the brink of homelessness or housing insecurity. By failing to commit to a rent freeze and ongoing rent controls, this government is abandoning the thousands of renters who are having to choose between putting food on the table or a roof over their heads. If this government wants to help renters, it should implement a two-year freeze on rents followed by a permanent cap on rent increases, which has wide public support. This is not a new idea; many places around the world have forms of rent control.
Response from the Minister for Consumer Affairs
The Victorian Government has demonstrated our commitment to renters through our nation leading package of more than 130 rental reforms which commenced in 2021. Those reforms included
limiting rent increases to no more than once per year, banning the active solicitation of rental bids and prohibiting evictions without reason.
As part of this ongoing commitment this Government also released the Housing Statement on 20 September 2023 outlining a 10-year plan to improve housing supply and housing affordability in
Victoria.
The Housing Statement will strengthen renters’ rights through further reforms including:
Restricting rent increases between successive fixed-term rental agreements to address the use of end of first-fixed term notices to vacate as a means to increase rent;
Banning all types of rental bidding;
Establishing Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria, which will provide renters, agents and rental providers with a timely, clear pathway to resolve tenancy disputes;
Building a portable rental bond scheme to enable renters to have their rental bond transferred from one property to another;
Extending notice of rent increase and notice to vacate periods from 60 to 90 days;
Making rental applications easier by standardising rental applications and protecting renters’ personal data by limiting the type and amount of information agents or rental providers can request from rental applicants and retain on file and;
Supporting Victorians in need by delivering a $2 million Rental Stress Support Package through the Victorian Property Fund.
