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Can I get the rent reduced?

37 quoted answers, each with its source

The short answer

In Victoria, a renter seeking a rent reduction must first ask Consumer Affairs Victoria for a free rent assessment, also called a rent increase investigation, within 30 days of receiving the written rent increase notice. If that report says a reduction should be given and the rental provider still refuses, the renter should apply to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria within 30 days of receiving the report; RDRV applications are free, VCAT requires some rent increase disputes to go through RDRV first, renters cannot be forced to leave because they asked for a rent assessment, and a renter can apply to RDRV for a rent reduction if the landlord reduces or removes services or facilities and refuses to drop the rent. From 25 November 2025 the minimum rent increase notice period for rental providers and rooming house operators is 90 days, and the notice form must be given at least 90 days before the increase starts; some industry commentary still describes a 60-day minimum, but that conflicts with the 25 November 2025 change. The rent cannot be increased more than once every 12 months for rental agreements that started on or after 19 June 2019, or for rooming house, residential park and caravan park agreements starting after 29 March 2021, and the limit is once every 6 months for rental agreements that started before 19 June 2019; there is no statutory cap on the percentage increase, but an increase may be invalid if the rules are not followed, and a rental provider cannot ask a renter to pay more rent because the renter broke any part of the rental agreement.

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

What the rules actually say18

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

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  • Consumer Affairs Victoria runs a free rent assessment.
  • The free rent assessment is also called a rent increase investigation.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
This is called a rent assessment or a rent increase investigation. It is a free service.
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A Victorian renter must ask for a rent assessment within 30 days of the rental provider giving them the written notice about the rent increase.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
You must ask for an assessment within 30 days of your rental provider giving you the written notice to tell you about the rent increase.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria states that renters cannot be forced to leave a property because they ask for a rent assessment.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Renters can’t be forced to leave a property because they ask us for a rent assessment.
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  • Consumer Affairs Victoria assesses whether a rent increase is excessive against a list of factors set out in the law and regulations.
  • Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria assesses whether a rent increase is excessive against a list of factors set out in the law and regulations.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
Consumer Affairs Victoria and RDRV will look at the list of factors set out in the law and regulations when we assess whether a rent increase is excessive.
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For a renter's rent paid into Consumer Affairs Victoria's Rent Special Account…

  • Consumer Affairs Victoria holds the rent.
  • the rental provider does not receive the rent until the issue is sorted out.
first-party
1 quote from 1 source
for their rent to be paid into CAV’s Rent Special Account. This means CAV holds the rent and the rental provider does not receive it until the issue is sorted out.
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A Victorian rental provider cannot ask a renter to pay more rent because the renter has broken any part of the rental agreement.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
A rental provider can’t ask a renter to pay more rent because they have broken any part of the rental agreement.
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Consumer Affairs Victoria states that a rent increase in Victoria may be invalid if the rent increase rules are not followed.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
If the rent increase rules are not followed the increase may be invalid.
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A Victorian rent increase notice form must be given to the renter at least 90 days before the increase is due to start.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
This form must be given to the renter at least 90 days before the increase is due to start.
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For Victorian rental agreements that started before 19 June 2019, the rent cannot be increased more than once every 6 months.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
for agreements that started before 19 June 2019, the rent can’t be increased more than once every 6 months
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Tenants Victoria states that a renter whose landlord refuses to drop the rent after reducing or removing services or facilities previously provided under the lease can apply to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria for a rent reduction.

1 quote from 1 source
If the landlord refuses to drop your rent after reducing or removing services or facilities previously provided as part of your lease, such as removing a washing machine that came with the property, you can apply to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) for a rent reduction.
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Tenants Victoria states that the first step in seeking a Victorian rent reduction is asking Consumer Affairs Victoria to assess whether the renter should be given a rent reduction.

1 quote from 1 source
The first step is to ask Consumer Affairs Victoria to assess whether you should be given a rent reduction.
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Tenants Victoria states that a renter should apply to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria within 30 days of receiving the rent reduction report from Consumer Affairs Victoria.

1 quote from 1 source
If the Consumer Affairs Victoria rent assessment report says you should get a rent reduction, but the landlord still refuses, you can apply to RDRV for your rent to be reduced. You should apply to RDRV within 30 days of receiving the report from Consumer Affairs Victoria.
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Tenants Victoria states that applications to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria are free.

1 quote from 1 source
Applications to RDRV are free.
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Tenants Victoria states that the fee to apply to VCAT at 27 June 2026 is $65.60.

1 quote from 1 source
The fee to apply to VCAT at 27 June 2026 is $65.60.
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Tenants Victoria states that Victoria's rental laws cover renter compensation claims of up to $40,000.

1 quote from 1 source
Note that Victoria’s rental laws cover renter compensation claims of up to $40,000.

Practical effect5

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

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Tenants Victoria reports that VCAT requires some Victorian rental disputes, including disputes about rent increases, to go through Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria first.

1 quote from 1 source
VCAT also offers a free dispute resolution service called Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV). VCAT requires some disputes to go through RDRV first, to give everyone the opportunity to resolve the matter without a formal hearing. These include disputes about repairs, compensation claims, bond claims and rent increases.
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Tenants Victoria observed that…

  • Victoria had legislated a framework for tenants and landlords to reach agreements on rental reductions.
  • more people needed to seek rent reduction through mediation where they could not agree with the agent and the landlord.
medium confidence
1 quote from 1 source
Ms Beveridge said Victoria had legislated a strong framework for tenants and landlords to come to fair and reasonable agreements for rental reductions, however it was clear more people needed to take advantage of the opportunity to seek rent reduction through mediation if they could not agree with the real estate agent and the landlord.
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A Tenants Victoria news item recorded that the available rent relief grant…

  • increased to as much as $3000.
  • had previously been set at $2000.
medium confidence
1 quote from 1 source
Renters facing hardship – defined as paying 30 per cent or more of their income in rental payments – will also be helped by the increase in the available rent relief grant to as much as $3000, up from the $2000 that was set previously.

Changed on4

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

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From 25 November 2025 the minimum notice period for Victorian rental providers to issue a rent increase notice changed from 60 to 90 days.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
From 25 November 2025, the minimum notice period for rental providers to issue a rent increase notice will change from 60 to 90 days.
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From 25 November 2025 the minimum notice period for Victorian rooming house operators to issue a rent increase notice changed from 60 to 90 days.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
From 25 November 2025, the minimum notice period for rooming house operators to issue a rent increase notice will change from 60 to 90 days.
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For Victorian rooming house, residential park and caravan park agreements starting after 29 March 2021, the rent cannot be increased more than once every 12 months.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
for rental agreements for rooming houses and residential or caravan parks starting after 29 March 2021, the rent can’t be increased more than once every 12 months.
#

For Victorian rental agreements that started on or after 19 June 2019, the rent cannot be increased more than once every 12 months.

first-party
1 quote from 1 source
for rental agreements that started on or after 19 June 2019, the rent can’t be increased more than once every 12 months

Disputed between sources3

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

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Consumer Affairs Victoria states the minimum rent increase notice period in Victoria changed to 90 days from 25 November 2025.

first-partyvendor
2 quotes from 2 sources
From 25 November 2025, the minimum notice period for rental providers to issue a rent increase notice will change from 60 to 90 days.
A landlord must give a renter at least 60 days written notice before a rent increase takes effect.
#
  • Consumer Affairs Victoria requires the rent increase notice form to be given at least 90 days before the increase starts.
  • Collings Real Estate describes the 60-day period as a minimum that a landlord cannot informally push back.
first-partyvendor
2 quotes from 2 sources
This form must be given to the renter at least 90 days before the increase is due to start.
The 60-day period is a minimum, not a target. Landlords who issue notice fewer than 60 days before the intended start date cannot simply push the start date back informally.

Often said, but we could not find it in the rules7

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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Collings Real Estate states that a landlord must give a renter at least 60 days written notice before a rent increase takes effect.

vendor
1 quote from 1 source
A landlord must give a renter at least 60 days written notice before a rent increase takes effect. This is one of the most important procedural requirements, and failing to meet it invalidates the increase entirely.
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Collings Real Estate states that there is no statutory cap on the percentage by which rent can be increased in Victoria.

vendor
1 quote from 1 source
There is no statutory cap on the percentage by which rent can be increased in Victoria.
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Forge Property states that landlords in Victoria must provide 60 days' written notice using the approved Notice of Rent Increase form.

medium confidencevendor
1 quote from 1 source
Landlords must provide 60 days' written notice using the approved Notice of Rent Increase form
#

Landlord Wise states that…

  • the minimum notice period for a rent increase in Victoria was changed from 60 days by Section 11 of the Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Act 2025.
  • Section 11 of the Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Act 2025 amended Section 44(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
vendor
1 quote from 1 source
Since 25 November 2025, the minimum notice period for a rent increase in Victoria is 90 days. This was changed from 60 days by Section 11 of the Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Act 2025, which amended Section 44(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
#

Cubbi states that the rent increase notice period in Victoria…

  • is 60 days.
  • will become 90 days from November 2025.
vendor
1 quote from 1 source
In Victoria, you can increase the rent once every 12 months. You must give written notice using the official form. Right now it is 60 days’ notice, but from November 2025 it will be 90 days. If the notice is not valid, the tenant does not need to pay the increase.