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Renting guides

Every fact shows its official source and the date we checked it.

How we write 1Summarise from official pages 2Show sources and check dates 3Update when rules change
Tools

Tools you can use now

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Move-in and move-out checklist
Tick items off room by room, with reminders to take photos as evidence. Your progress is saved in your browser.
For condition report and bond rules, the official pages take priority.
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Monthly living cost calculator
Pick your housing type and school, add bills, transport and food, and get a range rather than an exact figure.
A living cost estimate only. It is not proof of funds for a visa.
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Housemate cost split and agreement
Split rent, bills and bond by room size, then create a one-page housemate agreement.
The agreement is a record between you and your housemates, not a legal document.
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How much to have ready before you move in
Enter your weekly rent and how you pay it to see the most you can be asked for in bond and rent in advance, and which fees should not be charged.
This is not legal advice. Your agreement and the official pages take priority.
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Renting timeline for before and after you arrive
Enter your arrival and move-in dates to get a dated to-do list: searching, signing, paying bond, connecting utilities, the condition report and notice to vacate. Export it to your calendar or print it.
Legal time limits: the official pages take priority.
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Renting letter generator
Choose a situation, fill in a few blanks and get a letter for your rental provider or agent, with a plain-English explanation alongside.
This is not legal advice. Check the letter before you send it.
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Just arrived

Just arrived? Start here

When to start looking, what to sort out after you land, and what each area is like.

Starting in Melbourne in February or July 2027: when should you start looking for a place to live?
Plan your housing around 2027 course dates: when to start, where to stay first, what to book before you leave and what to sign after arrival.
Read the article
Your first week in Melbourne: what to sort out first, and what can wait
Airport transport, SIM card, banking, Myki, university check-in and moving: put them in order, with documents and deadlines ready.
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Melbourne area guides
Ten areas: which universities are close, how many places are listed, typical rents by room type, plus local amenities and transport.
See the area guides

Have a specific question? The help centre groups common questions by topic, and you can search it.Go to the help centre

Changes · What changed recently

What changed recently

Victoria's rental rules have been changing in stages, and old numbers still circulate online. Below are only dates you can check on an official page, each with the date we checked it.

See the full official list (CAV)
  1. 25 Nov 2025In effect
    First batch of new rules: 90 days' notice for rent increases (it was 60), rental bidding is banned, and a notice to vacate needs a valid reason.
    CAV · New rules summaryCAV · Rent increasesChecked 5 Oct 2026
  2. 31 Mar 2026In effect
    Rental applications must use the standard form, and rental providers and agents can only ask for what the form lists.
    CAV · Applying for a propertyChecked 5 Oct 2026
  3. 1 Jun 2026In effect
    Half-price public transport starts. The official page says it runs until 1 January 2027.
    vic.gov.au · Half-price travelChecked 5 Oct 2026
  4. 1 Jul 2026In effect
    Renters can transfer an existing bond to a new rental property (conditions apply).
    CAV · New rules summaryThis site · Bond and the RTBAChecked 5 Oct 2026
  5. 9 Sep 2026In effect
    Renters can pay their bond directly to the RTBA. You must tell the rental provider in writing before they start lodging the bond.
    CAV · Lodging the bond with the RTBAThis site · Bond and the RTBAChecked 5 Oct 2026
  6. 13 Oct 2026In effect
    Bond claims require at least 3 business days' notice and supporting evidence; rental application fees are banned.
    CAV · New rules summaryThis site · Bond and the RTBAChecked 16 Oct 2026
  7. Today11 Nov 2026
    Still to come
  8. 1 Jan 2027Ending soon
    End date of half-price public transport (the official page says until 1 January 2027).
    vic.gov.au · Half-price travelChecked 5 Oct 2026
  9. 1 Mar 2027Starts in phases
    Minimum energy efficiency standards for rental homes start in phases: heating, cooling, hot water, showerheads, insulation and draughtproofing.
    CAV · New rules summaryChecked 16 Oct 2026
Articles

Find articles by stage

From before you leave to renewing or moving, pick a stage to see only its articles. You can also use the search box above.

Start with renting step by step

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Start with 6 articles per stage, in article order.

Showing 9 of 9 articlesClear filters

Finding a place

1 article
Bond and rights
Stage · Finding a place

Victoria’s rental changes (2025–2026): which ones matter for international students?

As at November 2026, Victorian rules include the rental bidding ban, 90 days’ notice of a rent increase, the standard application form and direct RTBA payments. Energy efficiency and other later measures have future commencement dates. Check the date and legal agreement category before applying a rule.

10 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026

Inspections

1 article
Bond and rights
Stage · Inspections

How often are Victorian rental gas and electrical checks due?

From 13 Oct 2026, all Victorian rental properties require electrical safety checks every two years, plus gas checks where gas appliances, fixtures or fittings exist. Confirm dates and outstanding recommendations before signing; renters on older agreements can request the records.

8 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026

Signing

5 articles
Bond and rights
Stage · Signing

Victoria rental bond: how much, who holds it and how to get it back

For an ordinary Victorian residential rental, the usual bond cap is one calendar month’s rent and the bond must be lodged with the RTBA. Verify authority, the payment account and lodgement process. A transfer receipt is not an RTBA lodgement receipt. Higher-rent homes, VCAT decisions and other agreement categories need separate checks.

13 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Bond and rights
Stage · Signing

Victoria: an RTBA email arrived. What should you check before accepting?

Open rentalbonds.vic.gov.au independently to verify the transaction rather than paying through a suspicious email. Acceptance, direct payment and the official receipt are separate steps. Check names, address, amount and payer before acting; do not pay twice because a receipt is pending.

5 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Bond and rights
Stage · Signing

What should you check in a Melbourne rental agreement before you sign?

An ordinary Victorian rental agreement has no cooling-off period after signing. Before committing, obtain the full agreement and attachments, check names, address, rent, bond, dates and additional terms, and put agreed promises in writing.

8 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Bond and rights
Stage · Signing

Asked for months of rent or your original passport?

Keep your original passport and offer in-person verification or a necessary secure copy. Pause and ask for the basis before ongoing retention. Check rent in advance by state, weekly rent and payment frequency; it is separate from the bond, with no universal amount for every arrangement.

7 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
Bond and rightsSydney
Stage · Signing

Paying and checking your rental bond in Sydney

Pay through Rental Bonds Online or an authorised collection route, then track the official receipt and bond number after payment.

7 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026

Moving in

1 article
Bond and rights
Stage · Moving in

How do I complete and return a Victorian condition report?

For an ordinary Victorian rental, check the condition report room by room, add existing damage and untested items, then sign and return it within five business days of moving in. Date and label photos and keep them with the report.

6 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026

Moving out

1 article
Bond and rights
Stage · Moving out

Moving out and getting your bond back: cleaning, photos and disputes

When leaving a Victorian rental, establish how the agreement ends and when rent liability stops, then arrange the handover, keys and bond claim. A flight, moving out or returning keys does not automatically end the agreement. Keep cleaning and condition evidence and use the RTBA refund process.

9 min readChecked 9 Nov 2026
A one-page guide for parents

One printable page you can pass on to your parents.

Housing types comparedCostsRisks5 questions to ask an adviser
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