Renters can’t ask for basic repairs without fear of rent increases, we need rent caps now   :(
2026-06-10
greens.org.au
The Victorian Greens say new research showing barely half of Victoria's rental properties meet minimum standards proves that renters need stronger protections, including rent caps, so they can ask for repairs without fearing financial retaliation. 

New research from La Trobe University found only 54 per cent of audited rental properties met Victoria's minimum rental standards, with mould, dampness and bathroom conditions among the most common areas of non-compliance.

Almost seven in ten people who rent privately worry about asking for repairs in case they face a rent increase, according to research by the ACOSS/UNSW Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership, National Shelter and the National Association of Renter Organisations (NARO).

The Greens say the findings reflect what renters have been telling them for years: too many people are living with mould, leaks, broken fixtures and unsafe conditions, but are reluctant to push for repairs because they fear their rent will simply be increased at the next opportunity.

Victorian Greens housing spokesperson Gabrielle de Vietri said renters should not have to stay silent about unsafe or unhealthy living conditions just to keep a roof over their heads.

Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens Housing Spokesperson Gabrielle de Vietri:

"These findings confirm what renters have been telling us for years - renters are often too scared to ask for repairs because the landlord can simply jack up the rent."   :(

"No one should have to choose between living with mould, leaks and broken fixtures or risking a rent increase they can't afford."

“In the past five years rents have gone up 2.5 times faster than wages. Renters are spending too much of what they earn just paying their rent.

“You can have all the minimum standards you like but property investors have tenants on a tight lead because they have all the power. The risk of an unlimited rent is just too much for most renters - they’d rather stay silent than go back out and compete for another home.

"Jacinta Allan’s Labor Government can talk about renters' rights all it likes, but it means nothing when renters are too scared to exercise them. The Greens have been saying this for years, we need to cap rents.”

Help we need repairs, but we cant tell them or they might put the rent up.  Which is too expensive anyway.   :(

whiteknight wrote on Jun 10^th, 2026 at 6:31pm:

Renters can’t ask for basic repairs without fear of rent increases, we need rent caps now   :( 2026-06-10 greens.org.au The Victorian Greens say new research showing barely half of Victoria's rental properties meet minimum standards proves that renters need stronger protections, including rent caps, so they can ask for repairs without fearing financial retaliation.  New research from La Trobe University found only 54 per cent of audited rental properties met Victoria's minimum rental standards, with mould, dampness and bathroom conditions among the most common areas of non-compliance. Almost seven in ten people who rent privately worry about asking for repairs in case they face a rent increase, according to research by the ACOSS/UNSW Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership, National Shelter and the National Association of Renter Organisations (NARO). The Greens say the findings reflect what renters have been telling them for years: too many people are living with mould, leaks, broken fixtures and unsafe conditions, but are reluctant to push for repairs because they fear their rent will simply be increased at the next opportunity. Victorian Greens housing spokesperson Gabrielle de Vietri said renters should not have to stay silent about unsafe or unhealthy living conditions just to keep a roof over their heads. Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens Housing Spokesperson Gabrielle de Vietri: "These findings confirm what renters have been telling us for years - renters are often too scared to ask for repairs because the landlord can simply jack up the rent."   :( "No one should have to choose between living with mould, leaks and broken fixtures or risking a rent increase they can't afford." “In the past five years rents have gone up 2.5 times faster than wages. Renters are spending too much of what they earn just paying their rent. “You can have all the minimum standards you like but property investors have tenants on a tight lead because they have all the power. The risk of an unlimited rent is just too much for most renters - they’d rather stay silent than go back out and compete for another home. "Jacinta Allan’s Labor Government can talk about renters' rights all it likes, but it means nothing when renters are too scared to exercise them. The Greens have been saying this for years, we need to cap rents.”

How does that compare with a home owner, if home owners have to bear rising costs and investors have to bear rising costs how do we justify renters not having to bear the same cost rises as owners and investors.

How is it that renters are too scared to ask for repairs?.  Are there not supposed to be minimum standards?.   :(

whiteknight wrote on Jun 10^th, 2026 at 6:45pm:

How is it that renters are too scared to ask for repairs?.  Are there not supposed to be minimum standards?.   :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGm267O04a8

No rocka da boat, myte - don't upset-a da landlord an' 'is profits!!  'E can-a always replace-a you - you cannot-a replace-a 'IM!

The advent of Neo-Feudalism... a few upstarts with the swords in hand of homelessness and poverty and money can control everything you do and make you obey...

YTF do you think Albo's Socio-Fascist government does what it does?  They are the New Fat Cats, just like every failed 'socialist' country in history and on earth.

If Howard's theft of $232Bn from Il Tresuria Nacional did not wake you up to the true nature of 'government' here - nothing will.

I'm tired of being the problem solver with no cash for it... how many ideas do you need before you wake up?

20% royalty on all ideas from now on.

The only hope lies with the proles - and they are now rising in righteous wrath.  From 1984... capisce?

This was many years ago -
I know one renter who paid out around $2,000 for a gas hot water service replacement,
rather than risk telling the landlord.   :o

No no no it’s wrong to not tell what repairs are needed.
A stitch in time saves nine etc
We always stated we wanted to know so it could be repaired immediately.
By allowing tenants to feel at ease about reporting what repairs are needed is actually helping to look after the owners investment.

The last tenant in our GC house never reported anything and we thought everything must be fine and dandy!
This current tenant was honest enough to let us know the problems, leaking water in ceiling when it rained so we had a roof guy fix it for $1200. Problem fixed. And we’ve got a $1200 tax deduction to claim at tax time.
That’s how it works.

whiteknight wrote on Jun 10^th, 2026 at 6:45pm:

How is it that renters are too scared to ask for repairs?.  Are there not supposed to be minimum standards?.   :(

Stop being chronic rental trashers.

One of the biggest reasons investors get out of the rental market is because of the huge number of shyte tenants - that either are behind with their rent or they trash the houses. That makes rental investment uneconomic.

So sick of all the tenant crying posts you make WK. ::) 

Gnads wrote on Jun 14^th, 2026 at 5:45pm:

whiteknight wrote on Jun 10th, 2026 at 6:45pm: How is it that renters are too scared to ask for repairs?.  Are there not supposed to be minimum standards?.   :( Stop being chronic rental trashers. One of the biggest reasons investors get out of the rental market is because of the huge number of shyte tenants - that either are behind with their rent or they trash the houses. That makes rental investment uneconomic. So sick of all the tenant crying posts you make WK. ::)

I’m going to have to echo your sentiments here. It’s true. Three decades we’ve been landlords, and good attentive ones at that. Many renters we’ve had were fantastic, even after they go overseas for a year, and then come back, have contacted us to rent from us again.

And then it’s about those few that really need to be grilled how lucky they are to have a roof over their heads but no, they are liars, and constantly in arrears, a couple court appearances, and house left like a pig sty with repairs needed. And some of these liars end up on the rental black list.
Hubby and I worked hard to get the places in good form again. We care about our houses.
Then there were some landlords that didn’t give a fig.
So many bad renters and landlords in past have gotten away with it.
Not so sure now that new rental laws imposed upon all would let that happen nowadays?
I will say that a couple of real estate agents handling our rentals were so bad it cost us big insurance repairs, one GC agent simply forgot to do the checks for over a year.
We went and did the check and found some disheartening situation where a couple had separated and the guy had mates stay over, with an engine in the lounge room on the carpet.
And some holes punched in walls.
Needless to say I asked for a refund of fees from that agent. They sure had red faces that were sprung.
Then new carpet and fixed walls and fresh paint. We got the place in tip top shape again.

Honestly, I could write a book!!!

Sophia wrote on Jun 14^th, 2026 at 6:40pm:

Gnads wrote on Jun 14th, 2026 at 5:45pm: whiteknight wrote on Jun 10th, 2026 at 6:45pm: How is it that renters are too scared to ask for repairs?.  Are there not supposed to be minimum standards?.   :( Stop being chronic rental trashers. One of the biggest reasons investors get out of the rental market is because of the huge number of shyte tenants - that either are behind with their rent or they trash the houses. That makes rental investment uneconomic. So sick of all the tenant crying posts you make WK. ::)  I’m going to have to echo your sentiments here. It’s true. Three decades we’ve been landlords, and good attentive ones at that. Many renters we’ve had were fantastic, even after they go overseas for a year, and then come back, have contacted us to rent from us again. And then it’s about those few that really need to be grilled how lucky they are to have a roof over their heads but no, they are liars, and constantly in arrears, a couple court appearances, and house left like a pig sty with repairs needed. And some of these liars end up on the rental black list. Hubby and I worked hard to get the places in good form again. We care about our houses. Then there were some landlords that didn’t give a fig. So many bad renters and landlords in past have gotten away with it. Not so sure now that new rental laws imposed upon all would let that happen nowadays? I will say that a couple of real estate agents handling our rentals were so bad it cost us big insurance repairs, one GC agent simply forgot to do the checks for over a year. We went and did the check and found some disheartening situation where a couple had separated and the guy had mates stay over, with an engine in the lounge room on the carpet. And some holes punched in walls. Needless to say I asked for a refund of fees from that agent. They sure had red faces that were sprung. Then new carpet and fixed walls and fresh paint. We got the place in tip top shape again. Honestly, I could write a book!!!

I never used an agent to look after my rentals, for two reasons. I thought they charged too much for what they did and the vetting process for tenants. For my houses I would always do a drive by of an applicants current house to see what my house was going to look like in a few months. Boy did that remove a few people off the possible list. I always supplied a lawnmower with each house and paid the first $30 of water bills providing the lawns were kept healthy. Always make keeping the gardens in good condition in the lease so its not an arguable point. I made a lot of good friends who were tenants.

Leroy wrote on Jun 14^th, 2026 at 6:50pm:

I never used an agent to look after my rentals, for two reasons. I thought they charged too much for what they did and the vetting process for tenants. For my houses I would always do a drive by of an applicants current house to see what my house was going to look like in a few months. Boy did that remove a few people off the possible list. I always supplied a lawnmower with each house and paid the first $30 of water bills providing the lawns were kept healthy. Always make keeping the gardens in good condition in the lease so its not an arguable point. I made a lot of good friends who were tenants.

But did you ever bump their rent up when they asked for repairs?    :-/

Bobby. wrote on Jun 14^th, 2026 at 7:56pm:

Leroy wrote on Jun 14th, 2026 at 6:50pm: I never used an agent to look after my rentals, for two reasons. I thought they charged too much for what they did and the vetting process for tenants. For my houses I would always do a drive by of an applicants current house to see what my house was going to look like in a few months. Boy did that remove a few people off the possible list. I always supplied a lawnmower with each house and paid the first $30 of water bills providing the lawns were kept healthy. Always make keeping the gardens in good condition in the lease so its not an arguable point. I made a lot of good friends who were tenants. But did you ever bump their rent up when they asked for repairs?    :-/

I did most of the repairs myself. my rents were based on the outlay I needed every year. Insurance and rates continued to rise. My rent rises were at the end of each year based on our budget for the next year.

Leroy wrote on Jun 14^th, 2026 at 8:49pm:

Bobby. wrote on Jun 14th, 2026 at 7:56pm: Leroy wrote on Jun 14th, 2026 at 6:50pm: I never used an agent to look after my rentals, for two reasons. I thought they charged too much for what they did and the vetting process for tenants. For my houses I would always do a drive by of an applicants current house to see what my house was going to look like in a few months. Boy did that remove a few people off the possible list. I always supplied a lawnmower with each house and paid the first $30 of water bills providing the lawns were kept healthy. Always make keeping the gardens in good condition in the lease so its not an arguable point. I made a lot of good friends who were tenants. But did you ever bump their rent up when they asked for repairs?    :-/ I did most of the repairs myself. my rents were based on the outlay I needed every year. Insurance and rates continued to rise. My rent rises were at the end of each year based on our budget for the next year.

That's a politician's answer.     ::)