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Dear Landlord
A self-help tool for renters in Victoria
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Identify your situation

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    Getting Started

    Answer a few questions to establish what your situation is and Dear Landlord will help you understand what your options are.

    Disclaimer

    The content of Dear Landlord is legal information for general guidance and not legal advice. You may want to seek legal advice from a lawyer to understand how the law applies to your specific circumstances. You do not become a client of Justice Connect by using this tool.

    By using this tool, you must agree to Justice Connect’s disclaimer.


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    Admin - Starting point options
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    Do you have a current Notice to Vacate?*
    Select ‘Yes’ if you have a Notice to Vacate with an upcoming termination date, or you have an upcoming VCAT hearing for eviction.
    • What is a Notice to Vacate?

      A Notice to Vacate is a document that tells you why the rental provider wants to evict you. A rental provider must give you a Notice to Vacate before they can legally evict you. If you get a Notice to Vacate, you don’t have to leave by the termination date listed. You still have options to stay in your home. The document will be titled ‘Notice to Vacate’ and will look like this.

      Sample image of a Notice to Vacate
    • How do I know my termination date?

      Your termination date will be written on your Notice to Vacate document.

    • How to do I know if I have an upcoming VCAT hearing

      Your rental provider can apply to VCAT once the termination date has passed. You will receive a notice of hearing in the mail or by email or text message which will show you the date, time, and location of the hearing. You can also call VCAT on 1300 018 228 to find out if you have a hearing.

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    If it’s possible, do you want to stay in your current property?*
    • Why are we asking?

      If you have a Notice to Vacate and you want to stay in the property, there may still be options to do so. If you select yes, we will ask you a few more questions to help you figure out what your options are.

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    What type of rental agreement are you on?*
    • Why does the type of rental agreement matter?

      There are different processes to follow for the two types of rental agreement (also known as a lease). The type of rental agreement you have will change how you end your rental.

    • How do I know what sort of rental agreement I have?

      A fixed-term rental agreement is where you have agreed to stay at the property for a set period. Often this will be for 12 months. A periodic rental agreement often arises after your fixed term agreement has ended, and means that your lease continues from month to month with no specified end date.

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    Choose the circumstances that apply to your current situation*
    Select all that apply
    • Why are we asking?

      If you are experiencing severe hardship and/or family violence, there are specific options to support you to end your rental.

    • What is severe hardship?

      Severe hardship in this context means that you:

      • Have experienced an unforeseen change in circumstances, such as your lost your job, and
      • Would suffer severe hardship if you were required to stay at the property.

      If you apply to end your lease due to severe hardship, you will have to show evidence of your circumstances.

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    COVID-19 financial support available for Victorians

    The Federal and Victorian Governments are offering a number of different types of COVID-19 financial support for Victorian individuals.

    For a rundown of the various kinds of support available during the pandemic, including the newly announced RENT RELIEF GRANT, see our What kind of COVID-19 financial support is available for Victorians?

    Last updated 10 September 2021

    What do the new rental laws mean?

    New renting laws came into effect on 29 March 2021. This means if you fall behind in rent due to COVID-19, your landlord – now referred to as a rental provider – can take steps to evict you.

    Under the new laws, there is no legal requirement for your rental provider to accept a rent reduction, unless you applied to Consumer Affairs Victoria or VCAT before 29 March 2021.

    If you have an existing rent reduction or rent deferral agreement or order made during COVID-19, use Dear Landlord to find out what this means for you.

    If you want to find out more information about the new laws, see our What do the new rental laws mean for Victorian renters?

    A guide to the eviction process

    Evictions follow a legal process. This is a step-by-step guide if you are behind in rent to help you understand your rights and how Dear Landlord can help you.

    How Dear Landlord can help

    If you are behind in rent, Dear Landlord can help you understand your options based on your circumstances, including drafting a payment plan request to your rental provider, drafting a VCAT review application, and finding further financial or legal help.