The Allan Labor Government has joined forces with major real estate websites to tighten the rules around rental pricing, making it harder for unlawful rental bidding to occur in Victoria.
Minister for Consumer Affairs Nick Staikos confirmed that both Realestate.com.au and Domain.com.au have upgraded their systems to allow only a single fixed price on all Victorian rental listings. The move aims to stamp out price ambiguity and ensure transparency for renters navigating an already tight housing market.
“It’s hard enough trying to find a new home – without also worrying about what you’ll have to pay to secure it,” said Mr Staikos. “Price transparency is vital – renters have the right to know how much they can expect to pay, and these new measures as well as the complete ban on all forms of rental bidding will ensure this.”
Under Victorian law, rental properties must be advertised with a fixed price. Phrases such as “contact agent” or price ranges are considered a form of rental bidding, as they invite competition and can drive up rents unfairly. The new changes to real estate platforms mean that listings breaching these rules will now be blocked from publication altogether.
Consumer Affairs Victoria’s renting taskforce worked with REA Group and Domain to develop the change. It ensures non-compliant listings are stopped before they go live, helping agencies avoid penalties while allowing the taskforce to focus on enforcement and education.
Since its establishment in 2024, the taskforce has issued over 90 fines totalling more than $750,000 for rental offences across the state.
The upgrades by the two major real estate sites have been welcomed by industry players. A spokesperson from REA Group said, “Victorian rental listings on realestate.com.au now display one clear advertised price, replacing ranges and extra text, making searches more accurate for renters while streamlining the process for real estate professionals.”
“This change ensures property managers and agents can be confident that, when they list a rental property on realestate.com.au, they are compliant with Victoria’s fixed price advertising laws, avoiding possible fines,” the spokesperson said. “REA Group is committed to improving the property journey for renters and property managers by solving one of the most common pain points, price accuracy on listings.”
Domain echoed the sentiment, with its spokesperson saying, “Rental price transparency helps create a fairer, more informed marketplace for everyone. We welcome the Victorian Government’s commitment to improving transparency in rental pricing — a goal we strongly share.”
“Through Domain’s regular Rent Reports, freely available insights, and new product updates that ensure all rental listings display a single, clear price, we’re helping renters navigate the market with confidence while supporting agents and landlords to receive better-qualified, more-informed applications.”
The partnership forms part of a broader wave of reforms to protect renters. From 25 November, all remaining forms of rental bidding will be outlawed. Real estate agents and landlords will be banned from soliciting or accepting offers of increased rent from prospective tenants.
Further reforms will extend notice periods for rent increases and evictions from 60 to 90 days, remove no-fault and no-cause evictions, and prohibit third-party businesses from charging extra fees to pay rent or apply for a property.
With the cost of living already weighing heavily on Victorians, the Government’s latest measures aim to level the playing field between renters and landlords by closing off remaining loopholes and putting fair pricing at the centre of the rental market.
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