TENANT INFORMATION GUIDE FOR TENANTS (VIC) | Page 24

Renting a home Entry to the premises What landlords cannot do: What your landlord can do: Whether entering at an agreed time, or with 24-hours notice, the landlord does not have the right to: • Your landlord may enter your property at a date and time that you have both agreed on. However, this agreement cannot be made more than seven days before the entry. • In any other case, your landlord has the right to enter with 24 hours written notice to you, in order to: –– carry out duties specified in your tenancy agreement, Residential Tenancies Act 1997 or any other Act –– value the property –– show prospective buyers or financial lenders through the premises –– show prospective tenants through the premises (within 14 days of the lease termination date) –– verify a reasonable belief that you have not met your duties as a tenant –– make one general inspection in any six-month period, but not within the first three months of the tenancy The landlord or agent can only enter between 8am and 6pm, and not on public holidays. If you are home, you must let the landlord in, providing the appropriate notice has been given or agreement reached not more than seven days before. Your landlord can enter the premises if you are not home, providing that suitable written notification has been given. However, it is recommended that you are at home during a landlord visit. The inspection notice must be hand delivered between 8am and 6pm or posted to you. 24 • enter in an unreasonable way • stay any longer than necessary to do what is required, unless it is with your permission. Note: You do not have to agree to a verbal request from your landlord to enter the premises. You may request your landlord provide written notice and a reason for entering the property. Rent increases What you should know: • If your tenancy agreement is for a fixed term, your landlord cannot increase the rent before the end date, unless the agreement states otherwise. You can negotiate this with your landlord. • Your landlord cannot increase the rent more than once in any six-month period. • Your landlord must give you at least 60 days’ notice of any rent increase using the ‘Notice of Rent Increase to Tenant/s of Rented Premises’ form. • If your rent was $350 or less per week when you first moved into the property, your landlord cannot increase the bond during any subsequent agreement, even if the rent becomes more than $350 per week.