Latest guidance on commercial rent relief now in six community languages

Information on navigating rent relief and available supports for Victoria’s commercial tenants and landlords is now accessible in Arabic, Dari, Greek, Italian, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese.

The Victorian Small Business Commission’s (VSBC) guidance explains important changes to rights and responsibilities, and how tenants and landlords can access impartial help to resolve disputes.

Although landlords are no longer required to provide rent relief with the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme (the Scheme) having ended, tenants and landlords can choose to negotiate and agree on relief going forward.

If they can’t agree, either party can apply for help to resolve their dispute.

Victorian Small Business Commissioner Lynda McAlary-Smith said these translations are an important way to help make the VSBC’s services more accessible and inclusive as small businesses work on recovery.

“All tenants and landlords have the right to information on changes to their legal obligations and entitlements, and on ways the VSBC can help,” Commissioner McAlary-Smith said.

“The help we provide can be guidance over the phone early on, with the help of an interpreter and specialised dispute resolution officer.

“Where a dispute can’t be resolved like this, we can bring the landlord and tenant together with an experienced mediator and interpreter to guide them in reaching an agreement that they determine,” Commissioner McAlary-Smith said.

The VSBC is also continuing to offer help to resolve matters under the Scheme, which ended on 15 March 2022.

Tenants and landlords can access the VSBC’s translations and speak with us in their language by calling the Translating and Interpreting Service.