Other support for home and property

Renting, rooming houses and caravan parks

How we can help

A duty lawyer may be able to help you on the day of your hearing if you do not have your own lawyer. They can give free legal advice and may be able to represent people in hearings.

Our duty lawyers may provide tenancy advice and assistance (including representation) to people who are:

• residential renters
• rooming house residents
• caravan park residents
• specialist disability accommodation residents.

A duty lawyer can only help you with your case on the day of your hearing, so we may refer you to another legal assistance service for help.

During the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, we are continuing to provide access to advice and sometimes representation from a duty lawyer if you:

• have an upcoming hearing at the tribunal which might result in your eviction and you have not been able to get help from another service, or
• need an order from the tribunal to prevent an illegal eviction.

Other organisations that can help

Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program (for private renters)

There are some community agencies that can assist renters, who are faced with possible homelessness, deal with issues in a private rental agreement. These agencies can provide a range of services, including information and referral to other services, negotiation with residential rental providers or real estate agents, and assistance in preparing for and attending hearings at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the tribunal).

These services, provided through the Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program (TAAP), are available to Victorian renters who are financially disadvantaged or experiencing family violence.

For a list of community agencies that provide TAAP services in your area, view the Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program providers page on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.

Tenancy Plus support program (for public and community housing renters)

Tenancy Plus aims to prevent homelessness and support public and community housing renters to stay in housing.

Tenancy Plus used to be known as the Social Housing Advocacy Support Program (SHASP).

Tenancy Plus support providers work with renters to help identify, address and resolve any issues that may be placing the tenancy at risk. They can also connect you to a range of other support services in your local area and assist with hearings at the tribunal.

To find out more, contact your local housing office or contact a Tenancy Plus support provider.

Tenants Victoria

Tenants Victoria provides free legal advice and assistance for renters and can help negotiate with residential rental providers, real estate agents and government departments.

Tenants Victoria can help you apply and prepare for a hearing in the Residential Tenancies List at the tribunal. They can also assist in making complaints to Consumer Affairs Victoria about residential rental providers, real estate agents, rooming house operators or caravan park operators. Tenants Victoria does not assist with disputes between renters.

Homeless Law

Homeless Law provide a range of services for people at risk of homelessness, including legal assistance.

Anika Legal

Anika Legal can help with issues around repairs, being behind on rental payments, and eviction proceedings.

Housing for the Aged Action Group

Housing for the Aged Action Group provide independent advice, assistance and practice housing support for over 50s.

International Students Accommodation Legal Service

The International Students Accommodation Legal Service is a free, confidential and independent legal service to help international students with accommodation issues.

Other help and information services

Your local community legal centre can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.

Consumer Affairs Victoria manages laws about rental agreements in Victoria, including rooming houses and caravan parks. They give information and advice about disputes between rental providers and renters, and about retirement village disputes and complaints.

The Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria has a free telephone service that will work with you to try to resolve your dispute. The centre will talk about your problem with you, discuss options, suggest negotiation strategies and organise mediation, if required. Phone 1300 372 888

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hears disputes between renters and rental providers in the Residential Tenancies List. The list can make orders forcing the rental provider or renter to do something, like make repairs or pay some money, or to stop doing something, such as causing a nuisance. The list can also make orders about bonds or compensation. The tribunal has additional support services, including a Koori support team and a family violence worker.

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (previously known as the Department of Health and Human Services) provides public housing, bond assistance and other accommodation support for Victorians most in need. If you have been refused public housing, bond assistance or any other type of rental housing assistance provided by Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, you can appeal the decision. You can't appeal eviction orders, requests for emergency maintenance or decisions about recovery of rental arrears. These matters are dealt with by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

More information

See Disputes with neighbours for information about disputes between neighbours about things like noise, pets and fences.

See Homelessness for information for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Dividing your property

Family dispute resolution can help couples who have separated to sort out disputes more quickly and easily than by going to court. Our Family Dispute Resolution Service may be able to help you.

In some regional areas we also run free divorce workshops to explain the divorce process and help participants to complete their divorce application. These are currently running at our Bendigo office. Contact the offices directly to book your place. For contact details, see Our offices.

Other organisations that can help

amica

amica is a secure online platform that helps separating couples to:

• make parenting arrangements if you have children
• divide your money and property fairly
• create clear, simple written agreements about your arrangements, and
• create the documents you need if you want to turn your agreements into consent orders.

amica guides you through a user-friendly, step-by-step process, giving you information and support along the way. It is a very low-cost option and is free if either of you is on an Income Support Benefit.

Legal services

Some community legal centres have specialist family law and child support services. Most services are free. See the Community Law website to find a centre near you.

The Women's Legal Service Victoria provides free confidential legal information, advice, representation and referral to women.

You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Legal Referral Service. All law firms included in the Legal Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview. You can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and discuss the available options and how much they will cost. Note that the free interview is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.

Family Relationships Online

Go to Family Relationships Online or contact their advice line on 1800 050 321 to find:

• a family dispute resolution centre
• a child contact centre – where children can see their parents or where changeover from one parent to another can occur. Many contact centres also provide support programs for children and parents experiencing family breakdown
• other services that can help you reach agreement about the children.

Services Australia

Services Australia has information for families, separated parents and carers about their payments and services.

Courts

If you cannot agree with your ex-partner or if your case is not suitable for family dispute resolution, you may need to go to court. The court can make decisions about parenting orders and division of property. They can offer help, information and referral services. Go to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia website for more information.

Court Network volunteers support people at court. They are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you about how court works. They can also make referrals to other community agencies for support after the hearing.

If you want to see a Court Network volunteer, tell the court staff. You can also ring them before you go to court.

Family violence and support services

Family violence services are available for people who wish to leave, or have left, a violent relationship.

If you are experiencing family violence and the situation is urgent do not wait, contact the police on ‘000’.

For more family violence and support services, see our topic Violence, abuse and personal safety.

You can download or order these publications:

• Safe at home: how to get a family violence intervention order (also available in Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese)
• You and family law: a short guide.

See a list of all our free publications and resources.

Resources from other organisations

WIRE

WIRE's information booklet, Leaving a relationship, has information on your legal rights and options if are leaving a relationship. Includes parenting arrangements, finances, housing, court orders and getting help.

WIRE's information booklet, Separation and property, has information for couples considering separation. It covers property division and settlement, financial abuse, family dispute resolution and going to court.

Legal services that can help with homelessness

Contact us for free information about the law and how we can help you.

• Speak to us
• Help in your language
• Support if you are deaf or find it hard to hear or speak on the phone

If we can’t help, we can refer you to other organisations that can.

Our other free legal services include help at court depending on your income, circumstances and the nature of your charges. For some matters we can also provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.

Justice Connect

Justice Connect's Homeless Law program provides free legal information and advice to, and acts on behalf of, people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This includes people in transitional, emergency or social housing.

The clinic can assist with:

• housing and tenancy matters
• fines and infringement notices connected to homelessness
• guardianship and administration orders
• credit and debt problems
• Centrelink matters
• human rights advocacy.

The clinic cannot assist with family or criminal law matters.

Youthlaw

Youthlaw provides free and confidential legal information and advice to young people up to the age of 25.

Tenants Victoria

If you are at risk of becoming homeless, contact Tenants Victoria.

Theft and property damage

Other organisations that can help

Legal services

Your local community legal centre can give you legal information and advice. Most services are free.

You can also find a private lawyer near you through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Legal Referral Service. All law firms included in the Legal Referral Service provide a free 30-minute interview. You can use this interview to understand more about the legal issue and discuss the available options and how much they will cost. Note that the free interview is not 30 minutes of free legal advice.

Help at court

Court Network volunteers support people at court. They are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you about how court works. You can ring them before you go to court.

Our resources include:

• Your day in court
• Police powers: your rights in Victoria
• Am I old enough? Common legal issues for young people
• Drugs, the law and safer substance use.

See a list of all our free publications and resources.

We also have a video about police.

Resources from other organisations

The Youthlaw website contains information on graffiti laws(opens in a new window) including carrying spray cans and graffiti searches.

Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League(opens in a new window) website has information on the main laws and penalties related to the use of illegal drugs. It includes a section on Victorian laws and penalties.

The Agriculture Victoria website has information about:

• Restricted breed dogs
• Dog attacks, dangerous and menacing dogs
• Owning a menacing dog.

Mortgage stress

Mortgage Stress Victoria offers free legal advice, financial counselling, and social work for people who have a mortgaged property in Victoria and are experiencing money troubles.

Learn how Mortgage Stress Victoria can help.