Rent receipts in Victoria: what landlords must give and keep

Last checked against official sources on 2 October 2026

Giving a proper receipt is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself. It is also a legal requirement. Here is when you must give one and what it must say.

When you must give a receipt

• Immediately, if the renter pays in person.
• Within five business days of a request, for any other payment method, such as a bank transfer.

These are the timings on the Consumer Affairs Victoria page about rent payments. The simplest habit is to give a receipt for every payment, whether or not anyone asks.

What a receipt must show

1. The rental provider’s name and signature.
2. The property address.
3. The date the payment was made.
4. The period the payment covers.
5. The amount paid.
6. A clear statement that it is a rent receipt.

The period matters most when a renter pays part of the rent or pays across two periods. State plainly what the money went towards and what, if anything, is still owing. This also helps if you later need to work out the days overdue.

How long to keep records

You must keep rent records for at least 12 months. Our suggestion, not a legal rule, is to keep them for the whole tenancy and for some time afterwards, because they are what you will need if a dispute reaches VCAT.

The payment-method rules that go with receipts

• Offer at least one way to pay that has no fee for the renter.
• Accept Centrepay and electronic funds transfer.
• Tell the renter about any fees in advance.
• Do not accept post-dated cheques.

Separately, it is illegal to charge late or administration fees for processing rent, even when rent is late.

How VicPropGuard helps

When you record a payment, VicPropGuard can build a receipt with the property address, payment date, period covered, amount, and a clear rent receipt statement, and show what is still owing. You review it and choose to send it, and every receipt is kept in the History. Request early access.

General information only, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm the current requirements with Consumer Affairs Victoria or a lawyer before you act.