VICTORIA TAKES STAND AGAINST RENTAL RIP-OFFS: Landlords BANNED from advertising homes with vague price ranges in crackdown on “unfair” practices
- From November 25, landlords and real estate agents will be prohibited from advertising rental homes with price ranges or “contact agent” notices
- The move is aimed at discouraging rental bidding, where applicants offer higher rent than the advertised price to secure a property
- Victoria joins a growing number of states and territories that have introduced fixed-price rules, following Tasmania, NSW, South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia
In a major win for tenants, the Victorian government has announced a crackdown on “unfair” rental practices, banning landlords and real estate agents from advertising homes with vague price ranges.
From November 25, rental listings will be required to include a fixed price, in a bid to promote transparency and fairness in the rental market.
“Price transparency is vital. Renters have the right to know how much they can expect to pay,” said Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos.
The move is part of a broader set of rental reforms passed in March, which also extended notice periods for rent increases and evictions from 60 to 90 days, prohibited evictions without a valid reason, and banned third parties from charging extra fees to facilitate rental payments or applications.
Two of Australia’s major property platforms, Domain and realestate.com.au, have already updated their systems to allow only a single fixed price in listings.
“Rental price transparency helps create a fairer, more informed marketplace for everyone,” said a spokesperson for Domain.
REA Group also welcomed the reform, saying it would benefit both agents and tenants.
“REA Group is committed to improving the property journey for renters and property managers by solving one of the most common pain points: price accuracy on listings,” said a spokesperson.
The Victorian government’s decision follows in the footsteps of other states and territories, including Tasmania, NSW, South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia, which have all introduced fixed-price rules.
The ACT is also considering a similar reform as part of its draft rental reforms.