Housing workers say tenants will be more secure after a limit was imposed to the frequency with which landlords can increase rent.
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Landlords will only be able to increase rent once every twelve months after changes to the Residential Tenancies Act were implemented on Wednesday.
Housing Justice senior advocate support worker Lyndall Williams said the change would give lower income families more security within their tenancy.
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She said while frequent rent increases were not something Housing Justice saw often, it was common, but not normally excessive.
Ms Williams said frequent rent increases could affect people's ability to budget.
"It's more for the lower income families, it's just more security within their tenancy, being able to budget for that twelve months of the tenancy too," Ms Williams said.
"if we're working with someone that's on Newstart allowance, and their rent goes up $20 a week, that's $40 a fortnight, and that could mean the tenancies not sustainable."
PRDnationwide Bendigo property department manager Eboni Budde said the change would be unlikely to make a big difference, as most landlords only increased the rent once every 12 months.
She said the change would give tenants peace of mind.
"The tenants will know exactly what their rents going to be for the next 12 months. At least if they do get a large rent increase they know that it's set for 12 months," Ms Budde said.
A number of reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act are being implemented gradually until July 1, 2020.
Ms Williams said giving the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal the power to refer tenants to a financial planner in case of rental arrears would be useful.
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She said protection for victims of family violence would also make things easier.
The reform will mean victims of family violence can apply to VCAT for an order to terminate a fixed term or period tenancy without consent from a co-renter.
It will also allow VCAT to divide measures of liability between tenants in cases of family violence, for costs owed such as damage, bond or utility charges.
Ms Williams said this would meant victims of family violence were not left with massive debt, which could prevent them moving into a new tenancy.
She said the ability to break a lease quickly and leave was a big change for those who might be in danger.
Ms Budde said the changes were fair for both landlords and tenants.
She said the amendments to the act gave both parties a bit more protection.
The changes were things property managers were generally doing already in most cases, but they were now written down, she said.
Ms Budde said the new rules surrounding pets in rental properties would probably be the biggest change.
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