Hundreds of thousands of Victorian landlords are potentially failing to keep up with the state’s waves of rental reforms, risking fines that could force them to sell their investment.

The Consumer Policy Research Centre’s inaugural report into minimum standards and energy efficient housing released yesterday found 69 per cent of the more than 1000 tenants surveyed believed the home they lived in did not meet minimum standards.

About 27 per cent of them reported issues with poor insulation or temperature control, 23 per cent had problems with water inefficiency due to old shower heads and almost one in five were grappling with mould and damp.

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Another 17 per cent had issues with ineffective heating and a similar number with the home needing general repairs or maintenance.

CPRC deputy chief executive Chandni Gupta said the survey had captured a broad segment of renters around the state, and pointed to issues both with people understanding the minimum standards and with their enforcement.

Homes might also be slipping under the radar as a result of tenants being too worried about reprisals if they questioned the condition of their home.

“We have not seen as much enforcement when it comes to these laws, so potentially there are properties out there that are not meeting minimum standards,” Ms Gupta said.

Contrasted with the state’s 655,626 active residential tenancy bonds, the 69 per cent who felt their home didn’t meet regulations would translate to more than 450,000 homes falling short.

Surveys of 300 landlords as part of the research also found 10 per cent of them had concerns about the minimum standards.

The most common gripe was cost or inconvenience, followed with providing the services to tenants who were not paying rent or looking after the home, and others who felt there were too many standards to contend with.

Ms Gupta said she believed the most likely to be caught out were “accidental landlords” — people who inherited homes or who wound up having to rent a home out due to changes in life circumstances.

“People are finding themselves accidentally in this spot and they are the ones who are most unclear about their requirements as a landlord, and there’s a real opportunity to help educate and raise awareness about what is required from owning these services,” she said.

“At the moment becoming a landlord is having an investment property, and it’s looking at it through an investor lens.

“It needs to be looked at through an essential services lens.”

Ms Gupta added that while 75 per cent of surveyed landlords said they saw their role as providing an essential service, she said the government now had a role to play in providing better education for landlords — and more enforcement for breaches.

“There seems to be a gap there that could be filled in terms of ensuring that landlords are more aware of what’s needed to meet the minimum requirements,” she said.

“And I don’t think there’s been as much enforcement in that space and there’s definitely an opportunity for the government to lift its enforcement.”

The state’s rental minimum standards can be enforced with a maximum fine of up to $12,210.60 for individuals, and $61,053 for companies.

Property Investor Council of Australia chair Ben Kingsley said a fine above $10,000 would be more than enough to force most investors to sell, especially those who have their home negatively geared and are actively losing money on the investment.

Mr Kingsley said having hundreds of thousands of homes failing to meet minimum standards “would be catastrophic”, but he suspected the 69 per cent estimate was not right at the statewide level.

“We do know that most properties are inspected twice yearly, so it should be picked up,” he said.

However, he said he wouldn’t be surprised if some landlords weren’t fully across their obligations as there had been significant reforms at a time of high turn over of property managers as reforms which had been coupled with poor communication from the government to industry groups like PICA that could inform landlords directly.

While he said those who breached regulations around health and safety and put their residents at risk should face hefty fines, Mr Kingsley said there was a risk a government cash grab could backfire and lead to more landlords abandoning Victoria.

“The reality is that being hit with a $10,000-plus fine for minor breaches, it’s ridiculous, and likely to result in landlords selling up,” he said.

The property adviser added that as more of them became aware of the huge list of requirements they now had to meet, they were choosing to sell.

There are 15 categories of minimum standards that rental homes in Victoria must meet, and if they are not up to speed a tenant can request they be addressed before moving in.

It is also OK for them to end their rental contract before moving in without penalty.

Consumer Affairs minister Nick Staikos said last week’s raft of new reforms had included a requirement for landlords provide “documentary evidence” that the home meets minimum standards before being advertised.

“We know there’s more to do and we have even more reforms next year, including our portable rental bonds scheme which will mean renters won’t be stuck paying the dreaded ‘double-bond’ while moving home,” Mr Staikos said.

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Embattled Ashes opener Usman Khawaja has secured a lavish $3.825 million beach house as he sits out his home Test at the Gabba this week after a shock ruling that could end his career.

As Australia yesterday ruled the veteran cricketer out of the second Test, he and partner Rachel can retreat to their newly acquired Mermaid Beach showstopper.

The couple settled their big-ticket buy in the weeks before Khawaja’s heavily criticised performance in the first Test of the Ashes series in Perth in November, where the injured international player managed just two runs.

Continuing back trouble robbed the 38-year-old of his place in this week’s match against England in Brisbane this week, potentially meaning more time to soak up the idyllic lifestyle at his new seaside patch, just moments from the beach off Hedges Ave, one of Queensland’s most exclusive stretches otherwise known as Multimillionaire’s Row.

Mermaid Beach itself is a front-runner for the state’s most expensive suburb, with the median house price sitting at a blistering $3.75m, up 10.3 per cent over the past year bolstered by a string of megamansion sales topping out at $27.5m in September.

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The Khawajas’ new pad features a contemporary four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a pool on a 405 sqm block.

It was sold by Ray White Malan + Co agent, Conner Malan, with the listing describing a thoughtful design for families and entertainers.

“The functional floorplan offers two separate living areas, a dedicated dining space, and seamless flow to an outdoor poolside entertaining deck.”

A central kitchen overlooks the pool, providing a great connection to the alfresco zones for relaxed summer entertaining – though conspicuously missing from listing pictures is a decent patch of grass for backyard cricket matches.

That’s made up for by the park next door, directly accessed from the rear of the property.

“An easy stroll to pristine patrolled beaches and backing onto peaceful parklands, this north-facing beach house combines lifestyle, comfort and convenience in one of Mermaid Beach’s most sought-after pockets,” the listing states.

The couple, who have two young daughters, retain a sprawling property in Belmont in Brisbane’s outer suburbs, purchased for $3.45m in 2021, and snapped up a beachfront apartment on the Sunshine Coast for $1.825m two years later.

The post Inside cricketer Usman Khawaja’s $3.825m beach house appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Northern California’s largest MLS MetroList is partnering with Calaveras County Association of Realtors (CCAR) to expand its footprint and provide more tools and technology to CCAR members. 

The two announced their partnership on Tuesday. Through the partnership, CCAR members now have access to MetroList’s suite of MLS tools, its real estate data, streamlined workflows and real estate training, education and customer support. 

“This partnership with MetroList is a significant win for our members and the communities they serve,” Jesse Gibbs, the past president of CCAR, said in a statement. “After careful thought and consideration, our leadership chose to align with a larger, regional MLS network to help secure the future of our association and its members. By joining MetroList, CCAR members gain greater listing exposure, advanced tools and technology, and the ability to better meet the needs of real estate buyers and sellers.”

MetroList said the partnership reflects its commitment to supporting local Realtor associations, while also building a more unified real estate marketplace. 

“We are pleased to welcome the CCAR and its members to MetroList,” Dave Howe, the president and CEO of MetroList, said in a statement. “By bringing more associations together on a single MLS platform, we are creating a regional MLS that enables real estate professionals to better serve their clients and supports consumers who are increasingly searching for properties across county and regional boundaries.”

Howe added that it is collaborations like this that enable MetroList to enhance the services it provides to subscribers. 

Several MLSs across the country have entered into partnerships or data share agreements this fall, with Florida’s Stellar MLS announcing agreements with Beaches MLS,  State-Wide MLS, a subsidiary of Rhode Island Association of Realtors, Miami Association of Realtors, Bright MLS and Georgia’s First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS).

Northern Virginia’s housing market saw a dramatic rise in available homes this fall, with active listings climbing 39.4% in October compared with the same month a year earlier, according to HousingWire Data.

The region recorded 8,194 active listings in October, up from 5,877 annually — a level of supply that hasn’t been seen in several years.

That surge far exceeded local sales growth and contributed to a noticeable cooling across a market long defined by bidding wars and chronically tight inventory.

Regardless, homes continued to sell in healthy numbers.

Northern Virginia recorded 1,228 absorbed transactions in October 2025, an 11.5% increase from the previous year, HousingWire Data shows.

The median sale price dipped 0.9% year-over-year — sliding from $1,035,782 in October 2024 to $1,026,472 this past October.

“People had a hard time and it was still so much of a seller’s market, and now, I feel like it’s getting a little bit more normal,” said Bic DeCaro, team leader at Virginia-based eXp Realty affiliate Bic DeCaro & Associates. “Sellers were a little bit shocked or surprised because the home stayed on the market longer.

“There were better opportunities for buyers than there have been in the last five years. Buyers were able to negotiate in closing costs or get some time to do inspections and contingencies.”

The increase in listings also pushed months of supply sharply higher.

Northern Virginia reached 2.04 months of supply in October, up 53.6% from 1.33 months a year earlier — the first shift away from extreme seller’s market conditions that defined the previous several years.

National inventory grew 32.1% over the same period, putting the region slightly ahead in terms of supply relief.

“The market was so under supplied last year that it had to go up to balance out a little bit,” said Donny Samson, CEO of Samson Properties and head of The Donny Samson Team in Virginia. “I think sellers are getting the picture. Last year, at this point, you could put a home up for whatever price you wanted to and it would get multiple offers. It didn’t matter the condition or the price point.

“That’s not a good market to be in. Buyers weren’t getting contingencies. They were paying over market.”

Signs point to continued cooling

As of Nov. 21, Northern Virginia carried 1,333 active listings with a median list price of $1,190,478 and 1.42 months of inventory.

Weekly absorbed sales reached 228 transactions, according to HousingWire Data.

Roughly 37.4% of active listings show price reductions — a significant indicator of sellers adjusting to shifting demand.

“I think as rates continue to ease, you’ll see more buyers in the marketplace, and more importantly, more sellers that are willing to make that trade (in rates),” Samson said. He notes that the key is for people to be willing to trade their lower rate mortgage with a higher rate one. “The closer we can get those rates to each other, the more inventory we’ll see, and we’ll continue to have a healthier market.”

DeCaro said the change in market atmosphere came as a shock to many agents earlier this year, but they’re now ready to hit the ground running in 2026.

“People just weren’t used to seeing what we’re seeing now,” she said. “We are seeing homes move, they just took a little bit longer. Nothing wrong with that. That’s normal. We just weren’t used to that in Northern Virginia. I feel like the confidence level of the agents that are in my peer group is good, and they have a lot of hope.”

Greystar — the nation’s largest multifamily rental property manager — has agreed to pay $23 million to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and $1 million to the state of Colorado.

The settlement follows allegations that Greystar misled renters by advertising low monthly prices while adding undisclosed mandatory fees.

“Greystar misled consumers by advertising low rent prices and then adding mandatory fees at the end of the sales process,” said Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

“At a time when Americans are struggling to find affordable housing, the FTC is focused on monitoring the housing marketplace to ensure that competitors are meaningfully competing on price and that consumers receive transparent pricing.”

In January 2025, the FTC and Colorado alleged that Greystar violated the FTC Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Colorado Consumer Protection Act by misrepresenting rental costs.

According to the complaint, Greystar advertised deceptively low prices that excluded fixed, mandatory monthly fees rather than showing the total amount renters were required to pay.

Under the settlement, $23 million will be used to refund consumers affected by Greystar’s practices.

“Greystar has long championed transparency in the rental housing industry,” the company stated Tuesday. “In recent years, Greystar has launched industry-leading transparent pricing initiatives and digital tools, and encouraged technology partners to strengthen their own capabilities. Greystar’s investments and leadership in these areas show that we are well positioned to support our clients in meeting evolving FTC and state-level requirements.”

Provisions also require Greystar to refrain from misrepresenting rental prices or fees; to prominently disclose total monthly leasing costs when advertising base rent or partial pricing; and to clearly list all fees — including their purpose and whether they are mandatory — before collecting any payment such as a nonrefundable application fee.

The commission voted 2-0 to authorize filing the final order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said he’s directing staff to begin drafting a rule to address “unfair or deceptive fees in rental housing.”

“I applaud the Commission staff’s hard work in investigating and litigating this important
case, and in obtaining a powerful resolution for American consumers,” Ferguson said.

“But the Commission’s work on this case has revealed that the problem involving misleading pricing representations in America’s rental markets is not limited to Greystar, and today’s order will not fully resolve this problem.”

Additional legal action

Last month, a $7 million settlement agreement with Greystar was announced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta — part of a coalition of nine state attorneys general pursuing antitrust claims tied to RealPage software.

The settlement requires Greystar to stop using software that employs competitively sensitive information to align rents, and to cooperate in the ongoing prosecution of RealPage and other landlords.

Greystar recently settled a separate class-action lawsuit related to RealPage software, with that payout totaling $50 million.