The Allan Labor Government's renting taskforce is ramping up operations with first rental property inspections kicking off this weekend - to crack down on rental providers and estate agents who do the wrong thing.
Minister for Consumer Affairs Gabrielle Williams today joined Consumer Affairs Victoria Director Nicole Rich and taskforce officers in Clayton at a pre-briefing before they attend inspections of rental properties - for the first time.
More than 60 per cent of properties in Clayton are rentals, making it an important location for the taskforce's first inspection blitz.
The taskforce team are attending rental inspections in Clayton and the surrounding areas and will checking that rental properties meet the mandatory minimum standards.
The rental minimum standards include things that most people would reasonably expect in a home, such as a functional kitchen, lockable external doors, and being structurally sound and waterproof.
Victorians who suspect properties available for rent are being falsely advertised or do not meet minimum standards can alert Consumer Affairs Victoria directly through a new complaint form online.
After recent reports from the public via the new webform, the taskforce engaged with estate agents to ensure rental properties were upgraded and repaired to meet the minimum standards before they were leased.
Victorians looking for a rental property are urged to use the new form to report concerns - it only takes about five minutes to complete and can be submitted anonymously.
Backed by a $4 million investment from the Labor Government, the renting taskforce is scaling up operations using intelligence and market analysis to boost monitoring of rental campaigns, conduct targeted inspections and act on identified breaches. Operations will continue to scale up throughout 2024.
Letting a new renter move into a rental property that does not meet the minimum standards is a criminal offence, with maximum penalties of over $11,000 for individuals and over $57,000 for companies.
To access the advertised rental property report form, visit consumer.vic.gov.au/rental-listing.
As stated by Minister for Consumer Affairs Gabrielle Williams
"Our renting taskforce will now be out attending open for inspections to make sure all properties on the market meet minimum standards."
"Most rental providers and estate agents do the right thing - our renting taskforce is cracking down on those trying to get away with rental offences."
As stated by Member for Clarinda Meng Heang Tak
"We have led the way with more than 130 rental reforms, and the renting taskforce will make the rental market fairer for everyone in our community."
