A word from our CEO

A new chapter awaits Tenants Victoria next month.

After four decades in Fitzroy, Tenants Victoria is moving to new CBD premises. Amid the ongoing challenge of the social distancing in the pandemic, our suite of services for renters will continue to be accessed remotely.

The financial impacts of COVID-19 for renters continues to stretch our capacity, and while our staff are working even harder—and more strategically —there is still considerable unmet demand for all our services.

Our funding base remains constrained as we enter a new financial year. If you are in a position to help, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to assist us to assist renters in need. 
 

– Jennifer Beveridge

 

Family violence kit out now

In a timely move, we have updated our Family Violence Protection Tenancy Kit to incorporate the strengthened measures for those affected by family violence in Victoria’s new tenancy laws. Our completely revised kit is targeted at community workers and, we hope, will prove a useful resource. It includes an easily navigable contents section with online links attached. 

'It is a comprehensive and highly practical guide, from the perspective of tenancy law, to topics such as changing the locks and getting the perpetrator of family violence taken off the rental agreement,' said Agata Wierzbowski, Tenants Victoria’s Director of Legal Services. 

 

Anti-racism training

As part of our broad outreach to renters, Tenants Victoria will join with local South Sudanese community organisations in Melbourne’s western suburbs to run My Rental Rights, an empowerment project focusing on South Sudanese Victorians in private rentals.

The project has been funded by a grant from the Victorian Government to boost cross-cultural understanding across Victoria. While this is a trial project, Tenants Victoria wants to extend this new community-education program down the track to other diverse communities that have a need for this kind of support. ‘It’s an important building block in our anti-racism work for renters,’ said Farah Farouque, our Director of Community Engagement.

You can read more about My Rental Rights and listen to Farah Farouque speak about our new project on SBS Radio.

 

We are in the depths of winter...

Having a warm home is important.

Heating is classed as an urgent repair, so if it’s broken, or not working properly, tell the landlord – they have to repair it as soon as possible.

It doesn’t matter if there are other working heaters in the house – it will still be an urgent repair. If they don’t, you can go to VCAT where the case must be heard within two business days. See our repairs page for more information.

 

Help us help renters

Tenants Victoria is committed to advocate about what's hurting renters and provide information and support when they come to us for help. The challenge we face is that there is already considerable unmet demand for our services. The pandemic year has stretched us. 

We remain determined to continue to work to find innovative ways to meet renters’ intense need for tenancy services.

If you are in a position to help, please consider a tax deductible donation to Tenants Victoria today. Renters need our support services more than ever.