Wednesday, 12 August 2026

 Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (19:31): (2685) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Renters, and the action I seek is confirmation that university and student housing is fully covered by standard tenancy protections, like protection from unfair eviction, access to VCAT tenancy dispute processes, enforcement of minimum rental standards, transparency around fees and contracts, protection from coercive ties to enrolment status, fair notice periods and clearer termination rights.

Wani, a young university student in my multicultural youth advisory committee, lives in student accommodation. This important issue was raised by her, but sadly it is not a unique issue. Instead it is a common problem experienced by many university students where they are forced to sign rental accommodation agreements extending months beyond their course completion dates because providers know students have limited alternatives. Wani’s rent has increased by about $80 a week from last year, with very little notice given by the landlord. Despite these price hikes, the facilities in which students must live do not match. Wani explained to me a recent incident where toilets in the entire building did not work for three whole days, with students expected to go down the street to find public toilets to use. University-affiliated student housing does not always have the same protections as other rentals in Victoria. Exemptions such as section 21 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 allow universities and large corporate providers such as UniLodge to operate under occupancy agreements rather than standard leases. This means many forms of university-affiliated student housing operate outside the Residential Tenancies Act entirely. This means students are living in freezing dorms or waiting months to have their water fixed because there are no minimum standards for energy efficiency and no timeframes for addressing maintenance issues. There are no rules about how much landlords can jack up the rent, and if students get unfairly evicted, the onus is on them to prove why they should not have been.

I would like to conclude this adjournment with the following direct quote from Wani:

This loophole creates a two-tiered rental system in Victoria: one for ordinary renters and another for students. Students are often the most vulnerable renters of all. Many are living away from home for the first time. Many are international students. Many are on low incomes. Many are balancing work, study, caring responsibilities, and rising living costs. Housing is not just a commodity; it is foundational to dignity, security and participation in society.