Complete Rental Guide

The Consumer Affairs, Victoria have an online version of their Complete Renting Guide available.

This includes tips and information both tenants and landlords need to be familiar with.  The following two excerpts are from this Guide:

Steps you can take to have an urgent item repaired

• Speak with your landlord about whether your repair is urgent. If you request urgent repairs, the landlord or agent must respond without delay.
• If a repair is urgent and you are not getting a prompt response from your landlord or agent, you can authorise the repair for up to $1000.
• You can then give your landlord or agent a notice asking that they pay you back for the cost of the urgent repairs. Your landlord or agent has 14 days to pay from the date they receive the notice.
• If the landlord or agent does not complete the urgent repairs and they are going to cost more than $1000, or you cannot afford to pay for them, you can apply to VCAT, which will hear the application within two business days. VCAT can order the landlord or agent to arrange the repairs.

Agreeing to end a tenancy early

• You and your landlord can agree to end the tenancy early.
• It is important to put the decision in writing.
• This written notice should include any agreed costs, terms and conditions, and the date the tenancy is to end.
• If you have a fixed-term agreement but need to end your lease early, you should give written notice as soon as possible that you are leaving. Breaking a tenancy agreement may require you to pay compensation to your landlord.
• Either party can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to end a tenancy early on the basis of hardship.

Alternatively, feel free to contact us at True Property if you have any questions or concerns.