Call to ban filming during ‘dystopian’ rental inspections

A Victorian mother is concerned about what detailed filming of rental properties means for tenants’ privacy and safety. Victorian real estate agents have been slammed for invading tenants’ privacy during routine rental inspections by recording detailed videos. Tenant Kristie Hoskins is calling for this to be banned under the state’s Residential Tenancies Act and is especially worried about her childrens’ bedrooms and personal items being recorded. She also wants legislation to be amended so that agents would be prohibited from filming or photographing undamaged personal spaces, furniture, or living areas solely for the purpose of assessing a renter’s housekeeping or neatness. RELATED: Melbourne mum’s battle to evict tenant for her daughter Tax-dodging investors slugged with millions in fines for empty homes Victorian landlords face $62,000 fines for illegal renter questions Ms Hokins has started petition on the issue, amid fears of typical rental inspections turning into dystopian-style surveillance, which the Greens’ spokesperson for Renting Gabrielle de Vietri has sponsored in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. The petition states that “continuous, comprehensive video recording ...