Renting a home: a guide for tenants - Consumer Affairs Victoria

Paying rent
Pay your rent on time.
Get a rent receipt.
You are responsible for paying your rent
on time. You must continue paying it
until the tenancy ends.
Remember:
If any rental payments are late
or not made, you may be in
breach of your tenancy agreement.
If the rent is 14 days or more behind,
your landlord or agent can give you
a 14-day ‘Notice to Vacate’.
Rent receipts
You are entitled to receive a receipt for
each rent payment. Your landlord or
agent who receives the rent must:
• give you a receipt immediately if you
pay in person
• give you a receipt within five business
days if you do not pay in person but
request a receipt
• keep a record of the payment for
12 months. If you request a copy
within that time, they must provide
you with a copy of the record within
five business days.
The landlord can be fined if the rules on
providing rent receipts are not followed.
A rent receipt must include:
• your landlord’s signature
• your name
• property address
• payment date
• what period the payment was for
• how much was paid
• a statement that it is a rent receipt.
Communicating with
your landlord
PART 2: During a tenancy
You and your landlord may
need to contact each other regarding
issues such as rent increases, sub-letting,
damage to the premises, or ending
the tenancy.
You should always communicate or
confirm important matters in writing.
Your written communications should
be clear, signed, and include all the
necessary details. Keep copies for
future reference. Consumer Affairs
Victoria has forms available for a range
of scenarios.
See consumer.vic.gov.au/renting
for details.
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