Part payments and rent arrears in Victoria: how they change the days overdue
Last checked against official sources on 2 October 2026
Renters often pay some of the rent rather than all of it. That changes how much is owing, and it changes how many days overdue the rent is, but not in the way many landlords expect.
What the official sources say
Tenants Victoria explains that the 14 days of unpaid rent could be consecutive, or could have gradually added up because the renter underpaid over a longer period. So small shortfalls matter. Neither Consumer Affairs Victoria nor Tenants Victoria gives a formula for turning dollars into days, so what follows is how we count, and why.
How we count it
Every payment is applied to the oldest rent first. We then convert the money into days of rent at the daily rate, which gives a “paid-up-to” date. Rent is overdue from the day after that date. A part payment therefore does two things: it reduces the amount owing, and it moves the paid-up-to date forward.
A worked example
Rent is $2,000 a month, due on 1 August 2026. The renter pays $1,000 on 5 August and nothing more.
- 10 August: $1,000 is owing, but the payment covers the first 15 days of August, so the rent is 0 days overdue.
- 20 August: 4 days overdue, with $1,000 owing.
- 30 August: 14 days overdue. Without the payment, this point would have been reached on 15 August.
- 1 September: the September rent falls due, so the total owing becomes $3,000, with $1,000 of it overdue and $2,000 due today.
Try your own figures in the calculator, adding each payment as you go.
Use the first rent that was not paid, or the start of the lease. Rent is due on this day each week, fortnight or month.
Payments received since then (optional)
Enter the rent, how often it is paid and the first due date to see the result.
Nothing you enter is saved or sent. General information only, not legal advice.
What a part payment does not do
- It does not clear the arrears. The unpaid part is still owing.
- It does not start a fresh count while the oldest rent is still unpaid.
- It does not allow you to charge a late fee. Late and administration fees are illegal.
The count only starts again when enough has been paid to clear the oldest rent. If a later rent is still unpaid, the new count runs from that later rent.
What to do when a renter part-pays
- Record the date, amount and method of the payment straight away, and give a receipt.
- Tell the renter in writing what is still owing and from when.
- If you agree a payment plan, put the dates and amounts in writing.
- Keep checking the days. Part payments can keep the count below 14 for a while, and then it catches up.
If you are heading towards a notice, read our guides on counting the 14 days and giving the notice.
How VicPropGuard helps
VicPropGuard applies every payment to the oldest rent, shows the days overdue and the amount owing, lets you send a receipt for each payment, and keeps the full history, so a renter who pays a little at a time doesn’t slip through. Request early access.
Common questions
Does a part payment reset the 14 days?
Not by itself. If the oldest rent is still not fully paid, the renter is still behind. A part payment moves the date the rent is paid up to, so the count starts later.
Can the 14 days add up over time?
Yes. Tenants Victoria says the 14 days of unpaid rent could be consecutive, or could have gradually added up because the renter underpaid over a longer period.
Does accepting a part payment stop me giving a notice?
We have not found official guidance that says so either way. What matters is whether the renter is still 14 days or more behind. Get advice if a payment arrives after you have given a notice.
Sources
Related guides
General information only, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the current requirements with Consumer Affairs Victoria or a lawyer before you act.