Renters & Housing Union

In June 2024, RAHU contributed a written submission to the Victorian Labor government’s Minimum Standards for Rental Properties and Rooming Houses. The state government opened for submissions relating to the new minimum energy efficiency and safety standards proposed for rental properties and rooming houses.

A short segment of RAHU is contained below, while the full submission may be downloaded here. (432KB .pdf)

The Renters and Housing Union (RAHU) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission
on the proposed changes to Minimum standards for Rental Properties and Rooming Houses.
As Victoria’s only member based union for renters, we are uniquely placed to reflect the
views of our members, and renters more broadly. Our submission draws upon multiple
sources, including surveys of our members, previous work we have completed in this space,
and secondary research.

Our recommendations are below:

1. Rent increases must not be allowed unless property meets minimum standards
   (2021 & 2024 provisions), or failing, this, cannot be actioned without inspection of
   minimum standards and assessment conducted by independent qualified assessor
   (assigned by CAV Director).
2. Inspections must be conducted as part of assessment and completion of appliance,
   testing and other required checks as outlined in minimum standards of 2021.
3. All maintenance activities (including installing cooling, draught proofing and
   insulation) activities must be conducted by qualified professionals including
   assessment, inspection, testing, installation and modification.
4. That these inspections must be conducted before the renewal or initiation of any new
   lease.
5. There must be protections to ensure that no renter is unduly affected through rental
   providers:
   a. Passing on the costs through a rent increase
   b. Evicting tenants for renovations. If renovations are needed, eviction must be
   delayed until the renter has found adequate accommodation, or
   compensation paid up front.
6. There are opportunities to explore cheaper options which are less invasive for the
   renter, including mandating fly screens for all windows within rentals, or fans in
   sleeping and living spaces.
7. The proposed exemptions to the minimum standards present opportunities for rental
   providers to avoid meeting minimum standards, and should be tightened to ensure
   that people living in rentals under body corporate control can be properly protected.