What protections exist if I am experiencing family violence?
11 quoted answers, each with its source
The short answer
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018, which included family and domestic violence reforms, was passed in September 2018, and section 236 commenced on 29 March 2021. A Victorian renter with a safety notice or intervention order can change the locks without the rental provider or agent's permission; Consumer Affairs Victoria named sections 70A and 71 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 as the basis as of 26 March 2021, and section 70A was inserted by Act No. 52/2008. A renter experiencing family violence can apply to VCAT to change the rental agreement even if their name is not on it, or to leave before the agreement ends without paying for breaking the lease, and as of 7 December 2025 Consumer Affairs Victoria states VCAT must hear the application within 3 business days or no later than the next available day after those 3 business days. A renter's personal information must not be listed on a renter database if they breached the rental agreement because of an act of family or personal violence against them; the claims do not settle responsibility for property damage caused by family and domestic violence, as EBM RentCover states renters are responsible for that damage but also states a tenant can apply to VCAT to determine who pays.
Every part of this comes from the quotes below. How we write these.
What the rules actually say6
Quoted straight from Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Residential Tenancies Act or a tribunal.
Consumer Affairs Victoria states that VCAT must hear a Victorian renter's family violence application within 3 business days, or no later than the next available day after the end of the 3 business days.
1 quote from 1 source
VCAT must hear your application within 3 business days or no later than the next available day after the end of the 3 business days.
Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a Victorian renter experiencing family violence can apply to VCAT to change their rental agreement even if their name is not on it.
1 quote from 1 source
If you are experiencing family violence and need to change your rental agreement (lease) so that you or your children can be safe, you can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) . You can do this even if your name is not on the rental agreement.
Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a Victorian renter experiencing family violence can ask VCAT to order the rental provider to let them leave the property before the rental agreement ends without paying for breaking the lease.
2 quotes from 1 source
You can ask for VCAT to give you an order so that the rental provider (landlord):
lets you leave the property before the rental agreement ends without having to pay for breaking the lease.
A Victorian renter's personal information must not be listed on a renter database if they breached their rental agreement because of an act of family or personal violence against them.
2 quotes from 1 source
Your personal information must not be listed on the database if:
you breached your rental agreement because of an act of family or personal violence against you,
Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a Victorian renter with a safety notice or intervention order can change the locks without permission from their rental provider or agent.
1 quote from 1 source
If you are experiencing family violence and you have a safety notice or intervention order, you can change the locks . You do not need permission from your rental provider (landlord) or agent.
- Changing the locks because of family violence - Consumer Affairs Victoria consumer.vic.gov.au
Consumer Affairs Victoria names sections 70A and 71 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 as the law on changing the locks because of family violence.
3 quotes from 1 source
If you want to know what the law says about changing the locks because of family violence, you can read these sections of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 :
Section 70A – Locks for rented premises the subject of an intervention order
Section 71 – Application to Tribunal to change locks without consent
- Changing the locks because of family violence - Consumer Affairs Victoria consumer.vic.gov.au
Changed on2
A dated change. This is where advice quietly stops being true.
Section 70A of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 was inserted by section 259 of Act No. 52/2008.
2 quotes from 1 source
70A Locks for rented premises the subject of an
S. 70A inserted by No. 52/2008 s. 259.
Section 236 of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018 commenced on 29 March 2021.
2 quotes from 1 source
Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018, No. 45/2018
236–322, 329–342(12), 342(15)–367, 380–386, Sch. 1 on 29.3.21: Special Gazette (No. 42) 27.1.21 p. 1
Often said, but we could not find it in the rules3
Lots of people say this. We went looking for an official source that backs it up and could not find one, so treat it as something people repeat rather than something settled.
EBM RentCover states that renters are responsible for damage to a Victorian rental property caused by family and domestic violence.
1 quote from 1 source
Renters are responsible for damage to the property caused by FDV. Your impacted tenant can apply to VCAT to determine who is responsible for paying for any damage to the property.
EBM RentCover states that the…
- Victorian Parliament passed the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018 in September 2018.
- Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018 included reforms concerning family and domestic violence.
1 quote from 1 source
The Victorian Parliament passed the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2018 in September 2018 which included reforms concerning family and domestic violence (FDV).