Where and how is rent to be paid?
(1) The rent under a residential rental agreement is payable—
(a) if a place for payment of rent is specified in the agreement, at that place; or
(b) if no place is specified in the agreement, at the rented premises.
(2) Subject to this section, the rent under a residential rental agreement is payable in the manner (if any) specified in the agreement.
(3) A residential rental provider or that person's agent must not require a renter to pay rent by a cheque or other negotiable instrument that is post-dated. Penalty: 60 penalty units.
(4) A residential rental provider or that person's agent must ensure that a rent payment method that incurs no additional costs (other than bank fees or account fees payable on the renter's bank account) is reasonably available to the renter. Penalty: 60 penalty units.
(5) Without limiting how rent is paid, a residential rental provider or that person's agent must permit the renter to pay the rent by the following payment methods—
(a) the bill paying service known as Centrepay administered by the Department of Human Services of the Commonwealth;
(b) any prescribed payment method.
(5A) Subsection (5) does not apply to Homes Victoria or Homes Victoria's agent.
(6) Without limiting subsection (5), the residential rental provider and the renter, by agreement, may change the manner in which rent is payable under the residential rental agreement.
(7) The residential rental provider or that person's agent must give the renter information about any costs (including third party transaction fees, direct debit dishonour fees and any other electronic payment facility fees) that the renter may incur by using a particular payment method before the renter consents to use the payment method.
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