These updates apply to rental applications and application fees or rent payment fees charged by technology platforms.
Effective 31 March 2026, all residential rental applications must be made on a standard application form, rental providers and agents may only request information listed on the prescribed form. Rent tech platforms are banned from charging renters an application fees or rent payment fees.
Standardised application form
CAV | New changes to the rental laws
| Change | Commencement Date |
|---|---|
| Rental providers and property managers must use a prescribed, standardised rental application form | 31st March 2026 |
| Rental providers will need to follow clear rules for the type of information they can ask from renters | 31st March 2026 |
| There will be a ban on third-party fees for rental applications and payments | 31st March 2026 |
| Provision | Detail |
|---|---|
| s30AC – Application to enter residential rental agreement to be in prescribed form | Specifies that rental providers and property managers cannot prepare or authorise the preparation of an application form, and must use the prescribed form |
| s30BA – Residential rental provider may request prescribed information from applicants | Specifies that rental providers and property managers can only ask a rental applicant for information that has been prescribed. This is limited to prescribed information under the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Housing Statement Reform and Part 4A Site Agreements) Regulations 2025. |
| s51A – Prohibition on charging fees for application and rent payments | Extends the existing fee-ban framework to explicitly prohibit third-party businesses (rent-tech platforms) from charging renters fees for: Making a rental application; and Paying rent through those platforms or intermediaries. |
| Part 2, Division 4 – Other charges | Prescribes the broader prohibition on certain renter charges |
| Provision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regulation 12 – Prescribed application form | Specifies the official prescribed form that must be used for rental applications and prohibits alternative forms |
| Regulation 13 – Requirement for applicants to complete the prescribed form | Sets out how applicants must complete the prescribed form and what constitutes a valid application. |
| Regulation 14 – Information required to be provided in application | Lists the prescribed fields of information that an applicant must fill out on the form. |
| Regulation 15 – Restrictions on additional information | Prohibits the rental provider or property manager from requesting information outside the prescribed list |