Eviction moratorium extended

The Victorian Government is extending eviction moratorium laws to 28 March 2021 to provide greater certainty for tenants and landlords.

Extension of these laws will ensure that Victorian renters facing hardship due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will not be evicted from their homes (with limited exceptions) or have their rent increased before 28 March 2021.

The extension acknowledges that economic recovery in our state may take time and that vulnerable cohorts, such as renters, will need continued support.

Residential tenants and landlords who are finding it difficult to reach agreement over rent reductions will continue to have access to the free dispute resolution service run by Consumer Affairs Victoria for residential tenancies. This scheme has provided advice and dispute resolution services more than 90,000 times since it was launched in April 2020.

We encourage you to ensure your networks are aware of the Residential Tenancies Dispute Resolution Scheme that is available to all Victorians and encourage landlords and tenants to revisit their previous agreements, if any, in light of the new arrangements.

We thank you for working constructively with your tenants and with us during this unprecedented challenge.

Residential tenants and landlords who need help to reach an agreement or extend their existing arrangements, should contact Consumer Affairs Victoria.

For more information, visit renting rules and support during the moratorium on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.