1. The “Standard Form” Revolution (Effective TODAY)

As of March 31, 2026, agents and landlords are legally prohibited from using their own custom application forms.

• The Rule: Every rental provider in Victoria must now use a Mandatory Prescribed Rental Application Form.
• What’s Gone: Agents can no longer ask for your bank balance (only net income), your car registration, or your emergency contact’s details before you’ve been offered the property.
• Why it helps you: It prevents “data harvesting” and ensures you aren’t asked for intrusive personal information just to view a house.

2. The “Zero-Fee” Guarantee

In a massive win for student budgets, the 2026 laws have officially banned third-party application and payment fees.

• The Ban: It is now an offense for a rental app (like 20Mode or similar platforms) to charge you a fee to submit an application or to pay your rent.
• The Fine: Businesses caught charging these “convenience fees” now face fines exceeding $12,000.
• Your Action: If an app asks you to pay $20 to “boost” your application today, report them to Consumer Affairs Victoria immediately.

3. The “90-Day” Rent Increase Window

The 2026 reforms have significantly extended the notice period for rent hikes, giving you more time to find a new place or adjust your budget.

• The Extension: Landlords must now give you 90 days’ notice for any rent increase (up from 60 days).
• The “Excessive” Trigger: Under the new Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV) guidelines, you can now challenge an increase if it is significantly above the local market rate for your specific suburb (e.g., if your rent in Southbank jumps by 20% while the market only rose by 5%).

4. No-Fault Evictions are DEAD

The 2025/2026 transition has finalized the total ban on “No-Fault” evictions.

• The Change: A landlord can no longer simply tell you to leave at the end of your fixed-term lease because they “want a change.”
• The Only Way Out: They must provide a valid legal reason, such as moving a family member in, major renovations, or selling the property. If they can’t prove it, you have the right to stay on a month-to-month (periodic) basis automatically.

5. Privacy & Data Destruction

With the 2026 update, your personal data is safer.

• De-identification: If your application is unsuccessful, the agent is now legally required to de-identify or destroy your personal data within a strict timeframe.
• Reference Privacy: Agents are now limited in how they conduct reference checks; they can no longer “cold call” previous employers or landlords without your explicit written consent for that specific person.