A word from our CEO

Our community organisation was formed by activist renters nearly 50 years ago. We remain a proudly grassroots organisation – and that means centring the voices and experiences of renters. After pandemic disruptions, this month our new Renter Advisory Group met for the first time. Their insights, along with the experiences of renters who seek help from our frontline services, informs our advocacy amid the ongoing rental affordability crisis. 

If you also have an experience to share, please consider confidentially sharing it with us.  There is strength in the growing number of renters – and the stories they tell. 

Jennifer Beveridge 
CEO, Tenants Victoria

Lights, camera, action!

We’ve just released five short videos – we like to call them ‘two-minute movies’. They feature renters ­relating their experiences – in their own words – of dealing with a variety of tenancy legal challenges. The five volunteers who star in the videos are all renters who have recently interacted with Tenants Victoria and tapped into our online self-help information to resolve their problems. 

Our storytelling approach – to encourage even more people to use our website for help – has been generously backed by a grant from the Victoria Law Foundation. We are so appreciative of the renters who shared their personal stories – and welcomed us into their homes – to complete this creative project.

View all of the videos on Tenants Victoria's YouTube channel.

Nazha's story

Nazha found mould in her new rental property when she was about to move in. She searched on Google for information on how to break the lease and found helpful information on the Tenants Victoria website. Watch her story.

Leading economist speaks up for renters

‘I wouldn’t like to be in the shoes of the 70-year-old pensioner living in a small town, who told Tenants Victoria she had to work two days a week to afford the ever-increasing rent on a granny flat in an old house.’

Leading economics commentator Ross Gittins is speaking up – loudly – for renters. Check out his recent column in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and on his website, where he argues that the more policies favour homeowners, the more we disadvantage renters.

Do I have to keep the power on?

Q: My landlord wants me to keep the electricity on after I have moved out. Can they do this?

Some renters tell us that their agents or landlords want them to leave utilities such as electricity connected after they have moved out, so that it’s on for the final inspection or to show the property to new renters.