Victorian tenants given right to have a pet under sweeping changes to rental laws

Every tenant in Victoria will have the right to have a pet in their rental property under sweeping reforms to the state's tenancy rules, which will also prohibit real estate agents from soliciting higher bids for rent.
The reforms announced by the Andrews Government, give tenants more rights, will allow them to stay on longer leases and make bonds smaller and fairer, in response to a detailed review of the state's Residential Tenancies Act.

They also crack down on rental bidding, where tenants are forced to out-bid each other on rent, and limit rent increases to once a year, giving more long term security for renters.

Critics said while estate agents will be prohibited from "soliciting" higher bids for rent, there was nothing to prevent renters from offering more.

Other provisions include creating a publicly available blacklist of landlords and estate agents who have been found in breach of rental laws, or have had action taken against them.

"One in in four Victorians rent and for too long we've had an imbalance," Premier Daniel Andrews said.

"Things have not been as fair as they should be.
Owning a pet in a rental will also be made easier under the new rules.

Existing rules allow landlords to automatically include a no pets clause in rental agreements.

The RSPCA said over the past two years, 15 per cent of the dogs and cats turned in to them were surrendered because the owners were moving and could not take their pets.

While landlords will still need to provide consent, they will only be able to refuse in certain circumstances.

If, for example, a renter was refused the right to have a dog, the decision could be appealed to VCAT or the courts.

In a limited number of circumstances, it would not be possible to have a pet, if for example a local council banned backyard chickens, or if a body corporate banned pets.

Animals could also be banned in a heritage dwelling if the cost of repairs was considered to be too high.

The 'big struggle' to find a place to rent

For Victorians planning on signing a lease where the rent is $760 per week or less, landlords will not be able to ask for bonds worth more than one month's rent.
The move which is expected to cover the "vast majority" of rental households, the Government said.

Grace Reeves, a graphic designer who plans to study teaching, said she was living in a place that was "barely fit for human habitation" and was given two weeks' notice when her landlord decided to renovate.

"It was a big struggle. The rental market is extremely competitive," she said.

"Every inspection there were 30 to 40 people there.

"We learned very quickly that in order to get an apartment we wanted we'd have to be offering more money than what was being asked."

Ms Reeves said they had to offer an extra $20 a week in rent to get the place they wanted.

She said it was not fair that landlords and agents could get away with exploiting tenants.

"As long as I'm in a house where I get rights and I'm treated like a human being then I'm okay with [renting]," she said.

"I understand that owning property isn't realistic for everybody."