New Rental Application Laws Victoria | What Renters & Landlords Need to Know

From 31 March 2026, Victoria introduced a new prescribed rental application form that all property managers and rental providers must now use.

The intention is clear - to create a more standardised and fair process for renters applying for properties.

But from a property management perspective, I’ll be honest - it’s already proving incredibly frustrating.

As property managers, we are responsible for helping owners make informed decisions about who they entrust with one of their largest financial assets.

That means understanding whether a tenancy is likely to be financially viable, sustainable, and the right fit for the property.

The challenge is that under the new legislation, there is now minimal information we are able to request.

This significantly limits our ability to properly assess an applicant from a financial standpoint.

And while the intention may be to simplify the process, the reality is that it may actually lead to more applications being declined.

Not necessarily because the applicant is unsuitable.

But because there simply isn’t enough information available to make a sound decision.

What We’re Already Seeing

To be completely transparent, within just 24 hours of these changes coming into effect, we have already received several applications that, on face value, appear not to meet the financial requirements for the property.

Ordinarily, we would follow up to seek further clarification around income, affordability, employment structure, or additional supporting information.

Now, with the new limitations in place, our ability to request further details is significantly reduced.

This leaves us in a difficult position.

Where an application appears incomplete or raises concerns around affordability, and we are unable to seek further information, these applications will more than likely be declined.

Again, this is not always because the renter is not suitable.

It may simply be because there is not enough information available to demonstrate their capacity to comfortably sustain the tenancy.

That is incredibly frustrating for all parties involved.

Why This Matters So Much for Owners

With the ongoing limitations around giving notice to vacate, the tenant selection process has become more important than ever.

Once a renter is in place, it is not as simple as deciding later that they are not the right fit.

This means the decision made at application stage is one of the most critical steps in the leasing process.

Owners need confidence that the tenancy is financially sound from the outset.

That requires enough information to properly assess affordability and overall suitability.

When that information is limited, it places more pressure on the application itself.

A Reminder for Renters - Help Us Help You

While we cannot directly ask for information beyond what is permitted, this is an important reminder for renters applying for a property.

Please put yourself in the position of the owner.

They are trying to determine whether the property is financially affordable and whether the tenancy is likely to be sustainable.

The more complete and clear your application is, the stronger it becomes.

Where possible, look to provide more than enough information within the permitted framework.

This may include:

• clear employment details

• current income information

• recent payslips

• rental references

• supporting notes where your situation may need context, such as self-employment, casual work, or multiple income streams

Providing clear and complete information will not only strengthen your application, but will also significantly speed up the application processing time.

A complete application gives owners greater confidence and helps property managers make timely recommendations.

The Bottom Line

The intention behind the changes may be to make the process simpler.

But the practical reality is that less information can make decision-making harder.

For renters, this means the quality of your application now matters more than ever.

For owners, it reinforces just how important the tenant selection process has become.

And for property managers, it means balancing compliance with the responsibility of protecting an owner’s investment.

In the first 24 hours alone, we are already seeing how these changes may lead to more applications being declined simply due to lack of information.

The best thing applicants can do is provide a complete, clear, and well-supported application from the start.

Because sometimes it’s not about whether you’re the right applicant.

It’s about whether the application tells the full story.