The Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) believes the move will greatly increase the effectiveness of communication between landlords, property managers and tenants and result in more harmonious relationships.
REIV chief executive officer Enzo Raimondo said the current legislation, such as the requirement that a notice of entry be given to tenants by post, has become outdated.
“The current legislation is no longer relevant. A tenant may now wait up to a week to receive a notice in the post, which is redundant and impractical. The proposed changes, which would allow communcation such as notices of entry to be issued via email, will enable greater communication between stakeholders.” Raimondo said.
“Timely and effective communication between tenants, property managers and landlords will go a long way towards improving these important relationships,” he said.
While some organisations, such as the Tenants Union of Victoria, have concerns about the effectiveness and formality of using email as a communication tool between the parties in a residential tenancy agreement, Raimondo said a move to more contemporary communication methods will provide more safeguards to ensure notices have been received.
“The change is a positive one for all parties, including tenants. An email allows for a ‘read receipt’ to ensure that the notification is received,” he said.
“With a posted letter, it is far more difficult to know whether it has reached its intended destination. The changes are long overdue and the Victorian Government’s move to amend the legislation is definitely welcomed by industry.”
