- The Guardian
- Issue #2172
Photo: Rexness – flickr.com (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Almost three quarters of Victorian renters seeking assistance are unable to access help, with shocking new data revealing just 29% of calls to the state’s tenant support line were answered in October.
Analysis of Tenants Victoria’s call data shows 2,682 people sought help through Tenants Victoria’s phone lines last month, but only 776 received assistance – leaving more than 1,800 Victorians without the support they desperately needed.
The peak body for renters is calling on the Victorian government to invest $21.3 million in next year’s state budget to address what CEO Jennifer Beveridge describes as a crisis in renter support services.
“Every unanswered call represents a Victorian renter facing eviction, struggling with rent arrears, or dealing with unsafe living conditions,” Beveridge said.
“When three quarters of people calling for help can’t get through we’re allowing preventable housing crises to escalate into homelessness.”
The data reveals the scale of demand, with the service receiving more than 6,700 incoming calls in October alone – averaging 160 calls seeking assistance each business day.
Despite efforts including callbacks to those who left messages, the vast majority of renters went without support.
Eviction notices for rent arrears have increased five-fold over the past two years, while Tenants Victoria’s website recorded 1.34 million views from 558,400 unique visitors in 2024-25 – clear indicators of enormous demand for assistance.
“The Victorian government has already acknowledged that renters who could benefit from early intervention aren’t getting help until they’re in crisis – or missing out entirely,” Beveridge said.
“A modest investment at the right time can prevent a complete breakdown of someone’s housing situation. Instead, we’re watching preventable crises unfold because services simply can’t keep up with demand.”
Just $21.3 million in the 2026/27 budget would fund expanded renter support services including multidisciplinary supports, early intervention programs, targeted assistance for vulnerable groups like older renters, and better access to information and advice.
“With rental market conditions expected to remain tough for the foreseeable future, this investment is essential,” Beveridge said.
“Properly funding renter support services would be one of the most powerful and targeted cost-of-living measures the government could deliver for everyday Victorians doing it tough.
“Every day of delay means more Victorian families facing unnecessary eviction, more preventable homelessness, and more pressure on our already stretched crisis accommodation services.”
Tenants Victoria is urging the Victorian government to prioritise renter support services in the upcoming state budget, warning that without immediate action, the situation will continue to deteriorate.
