Victoria’s New Tenancy Laws Are So Intense They Even Amended the Funerals Act
/David Dawn here.
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Victoria’s Tenancy Laws Are Now So Intense They Even Amended the Funerals Act
I sat down recently to review the latest changes to Victoria’s tenancy rules. As usual, I expected more disclosure obligations, a few extra penalties and another round of paperwork for landlords to get their head around. That has become the rhythm of property regulation in this State.
But this time, the Government delivered something that even I did not see coming. The Residential Tenancies and Funerals Amendment Act 2024 landed in my inbox, and at first I assumed the title was a formatting mistake. Surely tenancy law and funerals were not meant to appear in the same Act.
But no. This is Victoria. Anything is possible.
The same document that changes rent increase rules and deepens the compliance load for rental providers also manages to regulate coffin pricing and funeral goods lists. If it was not so serious, it would be funny.
For landlords, it feels symbolic. For tenants, it adds another layer of complexity. For those of us working in the middle, it feels like a quiet message from the Government that the Victorian rental market is now somewhere between intensive care and palliative care.
Here is a closer look at what this unusual piece of legislation actually does, and why it has raised more than a few eyebrows.
What Has Changed in the Residential Tenancies Act
The Act updates several key sections of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, including:
• New prescribed forms for certain site agreements
• Expanded disclosure obligations for site owners
• Clearer rules for how rent increases must be calculated
• Additional mandatory information about fees, entitlements and obligations within Part 4A parks
• Transitional rules for existing agreements
These reforms follow a long trend of increased regulation in the rental market. Each individual change makes sense when read in isolation. But read together, the burden on landlords and property managers continues to grow, and many now question the sustainability of long term rental investment in Victoria.
And Then… the Act Regulates Funerals
After pages of tenancy changes, the Act suddenly amends the Funerals Act 2006 to require funeral providers to publish coffin and service price lists at their premises and on their websites.
It is hard not to read this without a sense of dark humour. Tenancy laws tightening on one page, coffin prices being regulated on the next.
A landlord could be forgiven for thinking the Government has taken the view that if the tenancy rules do not finish them off, at least funerals will now be more transparent.
What This Says About the Rental Landscape in Victoria
The message, intentional or not, is clear. Regulation is increasing at a rapid pace.
Landlords are finding it harder to remain in the market. Tenants face rising demand and stricter processes. And the wider sector is watching the slow squeeze intensify.
Tying tenancy reform and funeral regulation together in one Act may not be a policy signal, but it certainly feels like one. It suggests a Government comfortable with heavy handed intervention and not especially concerned about the commercial viability of the private rental sector.
For all parties, this creates pressure and uncertainty. And when uncertainty grows, property transactions become riskier.
What Should Buyers, Sellers and Investors Do Now
If you are trying to navigate the Victorian property market under these conditions, the best thing you can do is get clear guidance early.
Whether you are:
• Buying a home
• Selling your property
• Renting out an investment
• Reviewing a tenancy agreement
• Preparing a Section 32
• Or reassessing an investment strategy in light of these reforms
Victorian Property Settlements can help you understand what applies, what does not and how these rules affect your next move.
Victorian Property Settlements – Trusted for over 25 years by Victorian buyers and sellers.
Visit: www.victorianpropertysettlements.com.au