Rent increases must follow Victorian rental laws. These laws set the rules for changing rent. It also outline the legal grounds for when rent may be considered excessive.
If the rent is above the market range, you can challenge it
If you think the proposed rent is too high, you can ask for help. You can also request help if your rental provider has reduced your amenities (services or facilities) without reducing the rent.
The first step is to get a rent assessment from Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV). They will work out the property's market rental value. They will send a report to you and your rental provider with their findings. If the report confirms the rent is excessive, but your rental provider will still not agree to reduce the rent, we can help.
Under Victorian rental laws, affordability is not a valid reason to challenge a rent increase. If you are experiencing financial challenges, Tenants Victoria offer financial hardship support and advice for renters.
How we help
RDRV is a rental dispute resolution and case management service provided by VCAT. We can give you information, seek a resolution from the other party, and guide you through the process so you can get a fair outcome. We cannot give you legal advice.
Before you begin
Before you apply to RDRV, make sure you understand:
- Your rental rights and responsibilities (opens in a new tab)
- Mandatory rental minimum standards in Schedule 4 Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 (opens in a new tab)
- Your options to resolve your dispute
- How to apply to RDRV and the information you need to provide in your application
- Where to go if you need legal advice
If you have questions about the process of resolving your excessive rent dispute, contact us, so you can decide your next steps.
How to apply
You must apply to RDRV within 30 days of receiving a rent assessment report from CAV.
If CAV's rental assessment report confirms your rent is excessive, but your rental provider will not agree to reduce it, you can apply to RDRV to help resolve your dispute.
You can apply online (opens in a new tab) via myRDRV or visit us at one of our locations across Victoria to complete your application in person.
You must attach your rent assessment report to your application. If you have not requested a report, you must provide reasonable grounds why not, so we can seek a VCAT member's permission to proceed with your application.
What happens after you apply
We will assign a resolution coordinator to your case. After they review your application, they will contact you to discuss your case. They will stay with your case until your dispute is resolved.
A resolution coordinator will:
Review your rent assessment report from Consumer Affairs Victoria.
- Check whether the rent increase notice complies with the law.
Contact the other party to understand their side and gather any evidence.
Work with both sides to reach an agreement that complies with the law.
Help you get a decision at a hearing if you and the other party cannot reach an agreement through mediation.
How we handle your case
Your resolution coordinator will handle your case from the time you apply until it is resolved. They will review your information and contact all parties so they can understand both sides, and help you reach a fair outcome. Many cases are resolved through facilitated discussion or mediation, without the need for a VCAT hearing.
Apply
If your dispute is about bond, compensation, excessive rent or repairs, apply for help via myRDRV.
Case review
Once we have assigned a resolution coordinator to your case, they will review the details, then contact you to discuss your options.
Resolution
We work with both parties to help you negotiate a fair outcome. If you cannot agree, we will help you get a decision at a hearing.
Tips for handling rent increases
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- Check your rental agreement to see if rent increases are allowed and how often
- If you receive a rent increase notice, make sure it follows the required notice period
- Compare your rent with similar properties in the area to see if the increase is reasonable.
- If you believe the increase is unfair, talk to your rental provider
- If they don’t agree, apply to Consumer Affairs Victoria for a rent assessment
How often rent can be raised
Rental providers can’t raise rent whenever they want, or for however much they want - certain laws and notice periods must be followed:
- The law limits rent increases to once every 12 months for most agreement types.
- If you are on a fixed-term lease, and the lease specifies a rent increase, the terms in the agreement must be followed.
Fair market rate
The law states the rent should reflect fair market conditions. For example, if you live in Richmond in a 2 bedroom apartment, and the market rent for 2 bedroom apartments in Richmond is between $380 - $420 each week, then a rental increase to $400 each week may be considered fair and reasonable.
Consumer Affairs Victoria can provide you with a free rental assessment of your property.
How rental increases work in Victoria
There are laws that govern rental increases in Victoria, including:
- How often the landlord can increase the rent and the notice period required,
- The renter's right to apply for a review if they believe the increase is excessive.
A rent increase is only valid if the rental provider has complied with the law.
Some of the things a rental provider must do include using the correct form from Consumer Affairs Victoria with all the required details, and ensuring the renter has at least 90 days' notice before the rent increase applies.
Additional information
This section gives you extra guidance that might help with your situation. It includes useful context, related rights and responsibilities, and other details that can support your decision making.
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Generally, rent can only be increased once every 12 months for most rental agreement types. If you’re unsure, call Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) on 1300 55 8181 and they'll check if the increase is legal.
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Renters have the right to challenge an excessive rent increase. If you think your rent has gone up too much, you can apply to Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) for a review. They will confirm whether the proposed rent is within market value for similar rentals in your area.
If CAV's rent assessment says that the increase is too high, and your rental provider won’t agree to lower the rent, you can apply to us. We can facilitate a discussion between you and your rental provider. If both parties cannot agree, we will refer your case for a VCAT hearing so a member can make a decision.
Under the law, affordability is not a legally valid reason to challenge a rent increase. Tenants Victoria offers free financial counselling and support if you are experiencing financial difficulty.
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In Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) is responsible for assessing whether your rent is too high. You can ask them for a rent assessment report. It is a free service. We will ask you for a copy of CAV's report if you submit an application to RDRV for help.
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If you think your rent increase is too high, you can speak with your rental provider to try to reach an agreement on a different amount. If you cannot reach an agreement, apply to Consumer Affairs Victoria for a rent assessment. You can then apply to RDRV to go through a case review and resolution process.
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You must apply to RDRV because the law now requires excessive rent disputes to be managed through RDRV before they can progress to a VCAT hearing. This requirement was introduced under new legislation as part of the Victorian Government's 2024-2034 Housing Statement.
RDRV is an early resolution and case management service provided by VCAT.
An application to RDRV is an application to VCAT.
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You do not need to submit another application. An application to RDRV is also an application to VCAT.
After you apply to RDRV, we’ll do everything we can to help both parties agree to a fair outcome using facilitation and mediation techniques. However, in some more complex cases, a dispute may end up having to go to a hearing for a decision.
If your case needs to go to a hearing, you will need to give evidence and present your story to a member. You may have to pay a VCAT application fee. Your resolution coordinator will help you to prepare the case for the hearing, and will stay with your case until the matter is resolved.