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Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997

The changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Residential Tenancies Act) commenced on 1 July 2024.

The Disability and Social Services Regulation Amendment Act 2023 (the Amendment Act) makes changes to the Disability Act 2006, Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Residential Tenancies Act) and other Acts to strengthen rights for people with disability in Victoria.  

The Amendment Act became law on Tuesday 23 May 2023.

What are the changes?

The changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will:

  • change the meaning of ‘SDA provider’ to include more disability accommodation and support providers 
  • change the meaning of ‘SDA resident’ to include more people with disability 
  • create a new ‘SDA dwelling’ term to include more disability accommodation and support arrangements in Part 12A of the Residential Tenancies Act.

What the changes mean for people with disability

The changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will:

  • give more people with disability more residential rights and protections
  • offer people living in specialist disability accommodation a choice about the type of residential agreement 
  • mean more people living in specialist disability accommodation can be visited by Community Visitors.

Further information about the changes made by the Disability and Social Services Regulation Amendment Act 2023 are available on the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Disability and Social Services Regulation Amendment Act 2023 webpage.

For information about your rights or responsibilities as a provider or resident living in specialist disability accommodation, please visit the Consumer Affairs Victoria website.

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