Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Ministers statements: rental support

Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (14:57): We know it is harder than ever at the moment to be able to afford a home, and we know that more Victorians are renting than ever before. While here in Victoria we have the strongest rental protections in the country, we know that there is always more to do. That is why the Allan Labor government is expanding protections for renters and boosting housing stock, and through that also affordability. As the fastest growing state, and knowing that demand for rentals is growing, we are taking bold and decisive action to benefit renters now and long into the future. We have already delivered 130 rental reforms, and there are more to come.

We know that when you are moving house costs can add up quickly; we have all experienced it. That is why we are introducing a new portable rental bond scheme, because every dollar counts. Not only will this ensure that renters are not required to pay a new bond every time they move, it will also streamline the administrative processes for agents and property managers. We will also provide renters with more security and certainty over their leases by restricting rent increases between successive fixed-term leases. This will reduce the incentive for landlords to churn through renters in order to secure a rent rise, and it will provide renters with more certainty over their living arrangements, which we know is so very important. This is about doing what is right, it is about doing what is fair and it is about doing what we know makes a real and meaningful difference to the lives of Victorian renters. We are getting on with making a difference and making renting fairer while those opposite stand in the way of fair access to housing, as they have done for many, many years. They stood in the way of those 130 rental reforms. They are standing against renters again in 2023 – talk about being out of touch. So while they focus on making life harder for renters, we will get on and deliver for all Victorians.