Victorian Numbered Acts

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES AMENDMENT ACT 2018 (NO. 45 OF 2018) - SECT 69

    (1)     In section 77(1) of the Principal Act—

        (a)     for "tenant" (wherever occurring) substitute "renter";

        (b)     for "tenancy agreement" substitute "residential rental agreement".

    (2)     In section 77(2) of the Principal Act—

        (a)     for "may" substitute "must";

        (b)     for "tenant" substitute "renter";

        (c)     for paragraph (a) substitute —

    "(a)     a notice referred to in subsection (1) has been given to the residential rental provider; and";

        (d)     in paragraph (b)—

              (i)     for "landlord" substitute "residential rental provider";

              (ii)     for "repairs." substitute "repairs; and";

        (e)     after paragraph (b) insert —

    "(c)     the residential rental provider has not demonstrated that the residential rental provider—

              (i)     is experiencing financial hardship; or

              (ii)     would experience financial hardship if the rent was paid into the Rent Special Account.".

    (3)     In section 77(3) of the Principal Act—

        (a)     in paragraph (a), for "landlord" substitute "residential rental provider";

        (b)     in paragraph (b)—

              (i)     for "landlord" (wherever occurring) substitute "residential rental provider";

              (ii)     for "landlord's" substitute "residential rental provider's";

              (iii)     for "premises." substitute "premises; and";

        (c)     after paragraph (b) insert —

    "(c)     the whole or any part of the rent may be paid to the residential rental provider before the end of that period, if the residential rental provider and the renter agree to early payment.".

    (4)     After section 77(3) of the Principal Act insert —

    "(4)     A renter may apply to the Tribunal to order that the whole or any part of the rent paid into the Rent Special Account be paid to the renter if—

        (a)     the Tribunal has made an order under subsection (2) that rent be paid into the Rent Special Account in respect of a breach of section 68 or the rental minimum standards; and

        (b)     the residential rental provider has not effected any required repairs at the rented premises by the end of the period stated in that order.

    (5)     In determining whether a residential rental provider has demonstrated that the residential rental provider has experienced or would experience financial hardship for the purposes of subsection (2), the Tribunal may have regard to any of the following—

        (a)     an eviction notice given to the residential rental provider;

        (b)     a disconnection notice in respect of a service or utility account held by the residential rental provider;

        (c)     a notice of legal proceedings issued against the residential rental provider;

        (d)     a letter from a non-profit organisation about the residential rental provider's loss of employment or financial hardship;

        (e)     a notice from a lender to the residential rental provider, including—

              (i)     an overdraft call; or

              (ii)     a repossession notice in respect of a mortgaged property;

        (f)     outstanding medical bills of the residential rental provider;

        (g)     a letter from a doctor in respect of the impact of the residential rental provider's illness or carer's responsibility on the ability of the residential rental provider to earn an income;

        (h)     a final notice from a school to the residential rental provider in respect of the payment of mandatory schooling fees;

              (i)     funeral expenses payable by the residential rental provider;

        (j)     a repossession notice served on the residential rental provider in respect of an essential item;

        (k)     a hardship variation, or a written request to vary the terms of an existing loan held by the residential rental provider;

        (l)     any other prescribed document.".