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Can they ask me to offer more than the advertised rent?

51 quoted answers, each with its source

The short answer

Rental bidding was prohibited in Victoria as part of the 2021 rental law reforms, and the reforms introduced the requirement that rental properties be advertised at a fixed price. Holding rental auctions and inviting rental bids became offences for properties offered for rent from 29 March 2021, and from 25 November 2025 accepting rental bids above the advertised price is prohibited, including unsolicited offers. A price range or "Contact agent" in an advertisement is a form of rental bidding; enforcement has included fines against more than 40 agencies, more than 50 infringements totalling over $600,000 in 2024-25, and criminal prosecutions against five estate agencies. As of 2026 the claims conflict on voluntary higher offers: Soho Real Estate states that tenants can still offer more, while Consumer Affairs Victoria states that agents and rental providers are banned from accepting offers to pay rent higher than the advertised amount.

Every part of this comes from the quotes below. How we write these.

What the rules actually say13

Quoted straight from Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Residential Tenancies Act or a tribunal.

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A rental property in Victoria must only be advertised for rent at a fixed amount.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
A rental property must only be advertised for rent at a fixed amount.
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The reform extends the rental bidding ban beyond soliciting offers of increased rent.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Agents and rental providers will be banned not only from soliciting offers of increased rent from potential renters, but also from accepting any unsolicited offers from them.
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Using a price range or a phrase such as 'Contact agent' in a rental advertisement in place of a fixed price is a form of rental bidding.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Using a price range or phrases such as ‘Contact agent’ in rental advertisements in place of a fixed price is a form of rental bidding.
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A maximum penalty for companies of more than $59,000 per offence applies to the fixed-price rental advertising offence.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Fines for this offence are $2,371 for individuals and $11,855 for companies. A maximum penalty for companies of more than $59,000 per offence applies.
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Victorian landlords and agents cannot…

  • ask an offer to pay more than one month's rent in advance unless the rent for the property is more than $900 per week.
  • encourage an offer to pay more than one month's rent in advance unless the rent for the property is more than $900 per week.
  • invite an offer to pay more than one month's rent in advance unless the rent for the property is more than $900 per week.
1 quote from 1 source
They also cannot ask, encourage or invite an offer to pay more than one month’s rent in advance [section 40], unless the rent for the property is more than $900 per week.
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Under section 30F, when a Victorian landlord or agent advertises or offers a property for rent, the rent…

  • must be a fixed amount.
  • cannot be a price range.
1 quote from 1 source
If a landlord or agent is advertising or offering a property for rent, the rent must be a fixed amount. It cannot be a price range [section 30F].
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Agents and rental providers in Victoria are banned from…

  • asking for offers to pay rent higher than the advertised amount.
  • accepting offers to pay rent higher than the advertised amount.
other
1 quote from 1 source
Agents and rental providers are banned from asking for or accepting offers made by a renter to pay rent higher than the advertised amount or to pay more than one month’s rent in advance.

Measured finding6

Something someone actually measured, with the method attached.

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  • In 2024-25 the Victorian renting taskforce issued more than 50 infringements totalling over $600,000.
  • The infringements were issued to rental providers and agents who did not advertise a rental property with a fixed price.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
In 2024-25, the taskforce issued more than 50 infringements totalling over $600,000 to rental providers and agents who did not advertise a rental property with a fixed price.
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In the context of rent bidding…

  • the taskforce took criminal prosecutions against 5 estate agencies.
  • 5 estate agencies failed to advertise a rental property with a fixed price.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
In 2024-25, the taskforce issued more than 50 infringements totalling over $600,000 to rental providers and agents who did not advertise a rental property with a fixed price. The taskforce also took criminal prosecutions against 5 estate agencies for this offence.
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  • Over 40 agencies have been fined for rent bidding in their rental listings by not using fixed prices.
  • The rent bidding fines have been issued since the taskforce began.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Over 40 agencies have been fined for not using fixed prices in their listings, since the taskforce began.

Practical effect3

What is observed to happen in practice, as distinct from what is documented.

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Rental providers and agents became unable to list rental properties on realestate.com.au and domain.com.au unless they use a single, fixed price.

first-party
2 quotes from 1 source
Their platforms – realestate.com.au and domain.com.au, have now been upgraded in response to calls from our Renting Taskforce.
Now rental providers and agents will not be able to list rental properties unless they use a single, fixed price.
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  • Five Victorian real estate agencies were set to face court.
  • The five Victorian real estate agencies advertised rental properties in breach of Victoria's rental bidding laws.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Five Victorian real estate agencies will face court next month for advertising rental properties in breach of Victoria’s rental bidding laws.

Changed on17

A dated change. This is where advice quietly stops being true.

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The Victorian Renting Taskforce has taken action against…

  • rental providers who break the law since 2024.
  • agents who break the law since 2024.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Since 2024, our Renting Taskforce has helped protect Victorian renters’ rights by taking action against rental providers and agents who break the law.
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Significant changes to Victorian rental laws were set to start from 25 November 2025.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Significant changes to Victorian rental laws will start from 25 November 2025.
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  • Reforms outlaw all remaining types of rental bidding in Victoria.
  • Reforms outlawing all remaining types of rental bidding in Victoria were due to come into effect on 25 November.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
New reforms coming into effect on 25 November will outlaw all remaining types of rental bidding.
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The reform extends the rental bidding ban to also cover accepting unsolicited offers.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Agents and rental providers will be banned not only from soliciting offers of increased rent from potential renters, but also from accepting any unsolicited offers from them.
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  • Rental bidding was prohibited in Victoria.
  • Rental bidding was prohibited as part of the 130 rental law reforms.
  • The 130 rental law reforms were introduced in 2021.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Rental bidding was prohibited as part of the 130 rental law reforms introduced in 2021.
#

The requirement that Victorian rental properties be advertised with a fixed price was introduced by the 2021 rental law reforms.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
In Victoria, rental properties must be advertised with a fixed price under rental bidding protections introduced in the 2021 rental law reforms.
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A prohibition on accepting rental bids above advertised prices took effect in Victoria on 25 November 2025.

3 quotes from 1 source
25 November 2025
Reforms taking effect today include:
Prohibition on accepting rental bids above advertised prices
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  • Banning all types of rent bidding was one of the initiatives set out in the Victorian housing statement.
  • Making it an offence to accept bids in rent bidding was one of the initiatives set out in the Victorian housing statement.
medium confidence
2 quotes from 1 source
Today’s housing statement offers a substantial roadmap that aims to address many pain points for our state’s renters, according to Tenants Victoria.
Banning all types of rent bidding, making it an offence to accept bids and strengthening penalties against agents and landlords who break the law
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  • The offence of holding rental auctions applies to Victorian properties offered for rent from 29 March 2021.
  • The offence of inviting rental bids applies to Victorian properties offered for rent from 29 March 2021.
1 quote from 1 source
It is against the law and an offence for a landlord or agent to hold rental auctions or to encourage or invite renters to make bids (offers to pay more rent than the advertised amount) [section 30F]. This offence applies to properties for rent from 29 March 2021.
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The Victorian renting taskforce has been…

  • monitoring the rental market since March 2024.
  • taking enforcement action against rental breaches since March 2024.
other
1 quote from 1 source
Since March 2024, the renting taskforce has been protecting renters’ rights by monitoring the rental market, educating rental providers and agents on their obligations, and investigating and taking enforcement action against rental breaches.

Disputed between sources4

Sources that do not agree, presented without picking a winner.

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  • RentBetter describes the Victorian ban as covering inviting or soliciting higher rent offers.
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria states the Victorian ban also covers accepting any unsolicited offers.
first-partyvendor
2 quotes from 2 sources
They are banned from inviting rental bids or soliciting offers of rent higher than the advertised price.
Agents and rental providers will be banned not only from soliciting offers of increased rent from potential renters, but also from accepting any unsolicited offers from them.
#
  • Soho Real Estate states that Victorian tenants can still voluntarily offer more than the advertised rent.
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria states that agents and rental providers are banned from accepting offers to pay rent higher than the advertised amount.
first-partyvendor
2 quotes from 2 sources
It’s illegal for agents to ask for higher offers in some states like NSW and Victoria, but tenants can still offer more voluntarily.
Agents and rental providers will be banned from accepting offers made by a renter to pay rent higher than the advertised amount or to pay more than one month’s rent in advance.

Often said, but we could not find it in the rules8

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.

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RentBetter states that rent bidding is prohibited in Victoria under new rental laws that came into effect in 2021.

medium confidencevendor
1 quote from 1 source
New rental laws came into effect in 2021 and rent bidding is prohibited in Victoria.
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Soho Real Estate states that tenants in Victoria can still offer more than the advertised rent voluntarily.

vendor
1 quote from 1 source
It’s illegal for agents to ask for higher offers in some states like NSW and Victoria, but tenants can still offer more voluntarily.
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Forge Property advises renters not to…

  • offer rent above the advertised price.
  • propose side deals.
vendor
1 quote from 1 source
Do not offer rent above the advertised price or propose side deals
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McNeill Real Estate told rental providers that owners and agents cannot accept rent above the advertised price.

vendor
1 quote from 1 source
Owners and agents cannot accept rent above the advertised price
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The Real Estate Institute of Victoria stated that…

  • all Victorian residential rental properties must be advertised at a fixed price.
  • it is unlawful to advertise rental properties with a price range.
  • it is unlawful to initiate rental bidding.
vendor
1 quote from 1 source
The REIV also notes that all Victorian residential rental properties must be advertised at a fixed price. It is unlawful to advertise rental properties with a price range or initiate rental bidding.