Addition to VIC Residential Tenancies Regulations
****EDIT - OK guys a bit more research as I thought I had previously read regulation 15A, regulation 15A is actually the old regulation 15 in effect since 2021. They changed section 15 to reflect changes to application form which takes effect 31/3/2026. Section 15A will be withdrawn on 30/3/2026 but will function from now until then as it had been previously. The text of the new section 15 is now (The application form is available in the regulations under schedule 1):
15 Information which residential rental provider must
not require rental applicant to disclose
(1) This regulation has effect on and after 31 March
2026.
(2) For the purposes of section 30C of the Act, the
prescribed information is any information other
than the information set out in Form 3A in
Schedule 1.
(3) Subregulation (2) does not apply to a request for
the disclosure of information from a person who
applies to enter into a residential rental agreement
if—
(a) the residential rental provider is—
(i) Homes Victoria; or
(ii) a registered agency within the meaning
of the Housing Act 1983; or
(b) the application is in respect of—
(i) housing provided under a Victorian
Affordable Housing Program (within
the meaning of the Housing Act 1983);
or
(ii) accommodation that is provided under
a specialised housing program.
ORIGINAL POST:
The government has inserted a further amendment to the Residential Tenancies Regulations, the new regulation 15A was inserted in the regulations on 10th February 2026, below is the content of the new regulation 15A:
15A Information which residential rental
provider must not require rental
applicant to disclose
(1) For the purposes of section 30C of the Act,
the prescribed information is the following—
(a) whether or not the applicant has
previously taken legal action, has been
a respondent to legal action, or has had
a dispute with a residential rental
provider, rooming house operator,
caravan owner, caravan park owner,
site owner or SDA provider;
(b) the applicant's rental bond history,
including whether the applicant has had
a claim made on their bond;
(c) a statement from a credit or bank
account containing daily transactions;
(d) any information about the applicant that
relates to a protected attribute under
section 6 of the Equal Opportunity
Act 2010, unless the reason that the
information is required is provided in
writing.