Part 7—Regaining possession—Possession orders and warrants

Division 1—Applications for possession orders

322 Application for possession order by residential rental provider

(1) A residential rental provider may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order for rented premises if the residential rental provider has given the renter a notice to vacate the rented premises. (2) A residential rental provider may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order for rented premises if—

(a) the renter has given the residential rental provider a notice of intention to vacate the premises; and (b) the renter has not delivered up vacant possession of the premises.

322A Community impact statement

(1) If Homes Victoria applies for a possession order under section 322(1) for rented premises which are public housing, and that application is supported by a notice to vacate given under a section specified in subsection (2), Homes Victoria may provide a community impact statement to the Tribunal with that application. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the following sections are specified—

(a) section 91ZI; (b) section 91ZJ; (c) section 91ZK; (d) section 91ZL; (e) section 91ZO, if the order of the Tribunal under section 212 with which the renter has failed to comply was made in respect of a breach of section 60, 61 or 63; (f) section 91ZP; (g) section 91ZQ; (h) section 91ZR; (i) section 91ZS.

323 Application for possession order by rooming house operator

A rooming house operator may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order for a room if—

(a) the rooming house operator has given the resident a notice to vacate the room; or

(b) the resident has given the rooming house operator a notice of intention to vacate the room.

323A Application for possession order by person entitled to give notice to vacate under section 142ZO

A person entitled to give notice to vacate under section 142ZO may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order for the building if—

(a) the person has given a resident a notice to vacate under section 142ZO; and (b) the resident fails to vacate the building by the date specified in that notice to vacate.

324 Application for possession order by caravan park owner or caravan owner

(1) A caravan park owner may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order for a site if the caravan park owner has given the resident a notice to vacate the site. (2) A caravan owner may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order for a caravan if the caravan owner has given a resident a notice to vacate the caravan. (3) A caravan park owner or caravan owner may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order if the resident has given the owner a notice of intention to vacate the site or caravan.

324A Application for possession order by site owner

(1) A site owner may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order for a Part 4A site if the site owner has given the site tenant a notice to vacate the Part 4A site. (2) A site owner may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order if the site tenant has given the site owner a notice of intention to vacate the Part 4A site.

325 Application for possession order by mortgagee

(1) A mortgagee of rented premises may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order for rented premises if—

(a) the mortgagee has given the renter a notice to vacate the premises; and

(b) the renter has not delivered up vacant possession of the premises.

(2) A rooming house mortgagee may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order if—

(a) the rooming house mortgagee has given a resident a notice to vacate a room; and (b) the resident fails to vacate the room by the date specified in the notice.

(3) A caravan park mortgagee or caravan mortgagee may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order if—

(a) the mortgagee has given a resident a notice to vacate the site or caravan; and (b) the resident fails to vacate the site or caravan by the date specified in the notice.

(4) A Part 4A site mortgagee may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order if—

(a) the mortgagee has given a site tenant a notice to vacate the Part 4A site in accordance with section 207ZI; and (b) the site tenant fails to vacate the Part 4A site by the date specified in the notice to vacate.

(5) An application under this section must be accompanied by a copy of any court order which shows the mortgagee's entitlement to possession and to exercise a power of sale.

326 Time for application

(1) An application under section 322(1), 323(a), 324(1), 324(2) or 324A(1) may be made at any time after the notice to vacate is given but not later than 30 days after the termination date specified in the notice.

(2) An application under section 322(2), 322(3), 323A or 325 must be made after the termination date specified in the notice to vacate but not later than 30 days after that date.

(3) An application under section 323(b), 324(3) or 324A(2) must be made after the end of 7 days after the date on which the notice of intention to vacate is given but not later than 30 days after the termination date specified in the notice.

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329 Hearing of application for possession order

The Tribunal must not determine an application for a possession order under this Division earlier than the termination date specified in the notice to vacate or notice of intention to vacate accompanying the application.

330 Order of Tribunal

(1) The Tribunal must make a possession order requiring a renter, resident or site tenant to vacate rented premises, a room and rooming house or a building, a site or a caravan on the day specified in the order if the Tribunal is satisfied—

(a) in the case of an application where notice to vacate has been given, that—

(i) the residential rental provider, rooming house operator, caravan park owner, caravan owner, site owner, person entitled to give a notice to vacate under section 142ZO or mortgagee was entitled to give the notice; and (ii) the notice has not been withdrawn; and

(b) in the case of an application where a notice of intention to vacate has been given by a renter, resident or site tenant, that the residential rental provider, rooming house operator, caravan park owner, caravan owner or site owner acted reasonably by relying on the notice of intention to vacate; and

(c) that the residential rental provider, rooming house operator, caravan park owner, caravan owner, site owner, person entitled to give a notice to vacate under section 142ZO or mortgagee has complied with section 72 of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998; and

(d) that the renter, resident or site tenant is still in possession of the rented premises, room, building, site or caravan after the termination date specified in the notice to vacate or notice of intention to vacate; and

(e) that any resident who is entitled to a period of notice under section 142ZO has been given the required notice; and

(f) that in the circumstances of the particular application, it is reasonable and proportionate having regard to section 330A, to make a possession order taking into account the interests of, and the impact on, each of the following in making the possession order—

(i) the residential rental provider, rooming house operator, caravan park owner, site owner or mortgagee, as the case requires; (ii) the renter, resident or site tenant; (iii) any co-tenants or co-site tenants or other residents; (iv) any neighbours or any other person who may be, or who has been affected by, the acts or behaviour of the renter, resident or site tenant to whom the notice to vacate was given.

(2) If an application for a possession order is made under section 322(2), 323(b), 323A, 324(3) or 324A(2)—

(a) the application must be heard within 14 days after the application is made; and (b) the possession order must be made within 7 days of that hearing.

(3) The Tribunal must have regard to any guidelines issued by the Director when determining any application for a possession order which is supported by a notice to vacate under section 91ZJ, 142ZC, 206AR or 207X.

330A What is reasonable and proportionate?

For the purposes of determining whether it is reasonable and proportionate to make a possession order, the Tribunal must have regard to the following—

(a) the nature, frequency and duration of the conduct of the renter, resident or site tenant which led to the notice to vacate being given, including whether the conduct is a recurring breach of obligations under a residential rental agreement, residency right or site agreement; (b) whether the breach is trivial; (c) whether the breach was caused by the conduct of any person other than the renter, resident or site tenant; (d) whether the renter, resident or site tenant has made an application for a family violence safety notice, family violence intervention order, non-local DVO or personal safety intervention order and—

(i) if an application has been made, whether a family violence safety notice, family violence intervention order, recognised non-local DVO or personal safety intervention order has been made and whether the notice or order is still in force; and (ii) if a notice or order was made, whether it included an exclusion condition; and (iii) any other matter in relation to family violence or personal violence the Tribunal considers relevant;

(e) whether the breach has been remedied as far as is practicable; (f) whether the renter, resident or site tenant has, or will soon have, capacity to remedy the breach and comply with any obligations under the residential rental agreement, residency right or site agreement, as the case requires; (g) the effect of the conduct of the renter, resident or site tenant on others as a renter, resident or site tenant;

(ga) in the case of an application referred to in section 322A, any community impact statement provided by Homes Victoria; (h) whether any other order or course of action is reasonably available instead of making a possession order; (i) as the case requires, the behaviour of the residential rental provider, the provider's agent, the rooming house operator, the caravan park owner, the caravan owner or the site owner; (j) any other matter the Tribunal considers relevant.

331 Order to be dismissed or adjourned in certain circumstances

(1) Subject to subsection (4), the Tribunal may dismiss or adjourn an application for a possession order if—

(a) the application is supported with—

(i) in the case of rented premises, a notice to vacate given under section 91ZM; or

(ii) in the case of a rooming house, a notice to vacate given under section 142ZF; or

(iii) in the case of a caravan or site, a notice to vacate given under section 206AU or 206AV; or

(iv) in the case of a Part 4A site, a notice to vacate given under section 317ZB in respect of successive breaches by the site tenant of the duty to pay rent; and

(b) the Tribunal considers that satisfactory arrangements have been or can be made to avoid financial loss to the residential rental provider, rooming house operator, caravan park owner, caravan owner or site owner (as the case may be).

(1A) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), the Tribunal may adjourn the application and—

(a) refer the renter to a financial counselling service or other prescribed services; and (b) require the service to conduct an assessment of the person's ability to enter into and comply with a payment plan in relation to any outstanding arrears of rent.

(1B) The Tribunal may require the financial counselling service or other prescribed service to provide a report to the Tribunal on the assessment of the ability of the renter to enter into and comply with a payment plan.

(1C) A report under subsection (1B)—

(a) may be made orally or in writing; and (b) must be made within the time required by the Tribunal.

(2) An adjournment may be on any terms the Tribunal thinks fit, including an order that the renter undergoes an assessment and enters into and complies with a payment plan for the payment of any arrears of rent.

(3) On the resumption of an adjourned hearing, the Tribunal—

(a) may make a possession order if the renter or site tenant has continued to accrue arrears of rent during the adjournment period; and

(b) must dismiss the application if the renter or site tenant—

(i) has paid all the arrears which were the subject of the original application; and (ii) has accrued no further arrears of rent from the time of the application to the date of resumption of the adjourned hearing.

(4) The Tribunal must dismiss an application for a possession order which is supported with a notice to vacate given under section 91ZM if—

(a) the arrears of rent have been paid by the renter after the renter was given the notice to vacate but before the termination date specified in the notice; and (b) the notice to vacate is the first, second, third or fourth notice to vacate under section 91ZM given to the renter within a period of 12 months.

332 Order not to be made in certain circumstances

(1) Despite section 330, the Tribunal must not make a possession order if—

(a) the application for the order is supported with a notice to vacate given under section 91ZO, 142ZG, 206AW or 207ZA; and (b) the Tribunal is satisfied that—

(i) the failure to comply with an order of the Tribunal was trivial or has been remedied as far as possible; and

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(iii) the breach of duty is not a recurrence of a previous breach of duty.

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332A Tribunal may dismiss possession order application and make compliance order in certain circumstances

(1) Despite section 330, if an application for a possession order is supported by a notice to vacate given under section 91ZI, 91ZJ, 91ZK, 142ZB, 142ZC, 142ZD, 206AQ, 206AR, 206AS, 207W, 207X or 207Y, the Tribunal, having regard to whether it is reasonable and proportionate in accordance with section 330A to do so—

(a) may dismiss the application for a possession order; and (b) if it is appropriate to do so, may make a compliance order under section 212 as if the application for a possession order had been an application under section 209.

(2) Without limiting section 212, the compliance order may require a renter, resident or site tenant, as the case requires—

(a) to remedy the breach of duty to which the application for a possession order related; and (b) to refrain from committing a further or similar breach.

333 Contents of possession order

(1) A possession order must include—

(a) the day (being a day not more than 30 days after the day on which the possession order is made) by which—

(i) in the case of rented premises, the renter must vacate those rented premises; and (ii) in the case of a room in a rooming house, the resident must vacate the room and rooming house; and

(iia) in the case of a building in respect of which notice under section 142ZO was given, the resident must vacate that building; and (iii) in the case of a site or caravan, the resident must vacate the site or caravan; and

(iv) in the case of a Part 4A site, the site tenant must vacate the Part 4A site and remove the Part 4A dwelling situated on the Part 4A site, if the Part 4A dwelling is to be removed; and

(b) a direction to the renter, resident or site tenant (as the case may be) to vacate the rented premises, room and rooming house, building, site or caravan by the day specified in the order; and

(c) a direction to the principal registrar to issue a warrant of possession in accordance with section 351 on the application of the person who obtained the possession order.

(1A) Despite subsection (1)(a), if a resident referred to in subparagraph (iia) is entitled to a longer period of notice under section 142ZO, the possession order must specify a day that gives the resident not less than that longer period of notice as the day by which the resident must vacate the building.

(1B) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a), if the Tribunal makes a possession order for an application which is supported by a notice to vacate given under section 91ZI, 91ZJ, 91ZK, 142ZB, 142ZC, 142ZD, 206AQ, 206AR, 206AS, 207W, 207X or 207Y, in determining the day on which the renter, resident or site tenant must vacate the rented premises, room, caravan or site, the Tribunal may take into account any special requirements the renter, resident or site tenant may have to access relevant social support or alternative accommodation.

(2) A possession order for rented premises or a room in a rooming house or a building must also include a warning that if the renter or resident fails to comply with the direction in subsection (1)(b), he or she may be forcibly vacated from the rented premises or room and rooming house or the building by a police officer or an authorised person carrying out a warrant of possession. (3) A possession order for a site or caravan must also include a warning that if the resident and any other person residing at the site or in the caravan fails to comply with the direction referred to in subsection (1)(b)—

(a) if the resident had a right to reside in a caravan owned by a caravan owner, he or she and any other person residing at the site or in the caravan may be forcibly vacated from the site and the caravan park by a police officer or an authorised person carrying out a warrant of possession; or

(b) if the resident had a right to occupy a site in a caravan owned by the resident, he or she and any other person residing at the site or in the caravan may be forcibly vacated from the site and the caravan park by a police officer or an authorised person carrying out a warrant of possession and the caravan may be removed from the caravan park and held under Division 5.

(4) A possession order for a site in a Part 4A park must also include a warning that if the site tenant and any other person residing at the Part 4A site fails to comply with the direction referred to in subsection (1)(b), the site tenant and any other person residing at the Part 4A site in a Part 4A dwelling may be forcibly removed from the Part 4A site and the Part 4A dwelling by a police officer or an authorised person carrying out a warrant of possession.

334 Effect of possession order for rented premises or Part 4A site

(1) If a possession order is made under this Division in respect of rented premises, the residential rental agreement terminates at the end of the day before the day on which possession of the rented premises is delivered up to the residential rental provider or mortgagee.

(2) If a possession order is made under this Division in respect of a Part 4A site, the site agreement terminates at the end of the day before the day on which possession of the Part 4A site is delivered up to the site owner or mortgagee.

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344 Application for possession order if premises occupied without consent

(1) A person who claims to be entitled to the possession of premises may apply to the Tribunal for a possession order if—

(a) the premises have been rented premises under a residential rental agreement at any time within the period of 12 months before the date of the application; and

(b) the applicant alleges that the premises are occupied solely by a person (not being a renter under a residential rental agreement) who entered into or remained in occupation without the applicant's licence or consent or that of any predecessor in title of the applicant.

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345 Order of Tribunal

The Tribunal must make a possession order for the premises if the Tribunal is satisfied that—

(a) the applicant under section 344 is entitled to possession of the premises; and (b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that a person is occupying the premises without licence or consent.

346 What must the possession order provide?

A possession order under this Division must—

(a) direct the principal registrar to issue without delay a warrant of possession against all persons for the time being occupying the premises; or

(b) provide that notice in the form prescribed by the rules of the Tribunal be served without delay on all persons for the time being occupying the premises requiring them—

(i) to appear before the Tribunal on a day after the end of 7 days after the giving of the notice; and (ii) to show cause why a warrant of possession should not be issued.

347 Notice to occupiers of premises

If a possession order under this Division requires a notice to be given, the applicant for the order must serve a copy of the order and the notice on all persons for the time being occupying the premises by affixing the copy of the order and the notice to a door giving access to the premises.

348 Direction of Tribunal if occupier fails to appear

(1) If a person on whom a copy of an order and a notice is served under this Division fails to appear before the Tribunal in accordance with the notice, the Tribunal must direct the principal registrar to issue without delay a warrant of possession against all persons for the time being occupying the premises. (2) The Tribunal must not give a direction under subsection (1) unless it is satisfied that the copy of the possession order and the notice were served in accordance with this Division.

349 Order of Tribunal if occupier appears

If a person on whom a copy of an order and a notice is served under this Division appears to answer the notice, the Tribunal—

(a) on giving both parties an opportunity to be heard, must determine the matter; and

(b) if it is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to the premises, must direct the principal registrar to issue a warrant of possession against all persons for the time being occupying the premises; and (c) if it is not satisfied that the applicant is entitled to the premises, may cancel the possession order.

350 Effect of this Division

This Division has effect despite anything to the contrary in any other provision of this Act.

Division 4—Warrants of possession

351 Issue of warrant of possession

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who obtains a possession order under this Part may apply to the principal registrar for a warrant of possession—

(a) immediately, if the possession order so provides; or

(b) within 6 months after the date of the possession order if the renter, resident or site tenant fails to comply with the possession order.

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(3) An application under this section must be accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any). (4) Subject to this Division, a warrant must be executed within the time stated in the possession order which must not exceed 30 days after the date of issue of the warrant.

352 Postponement of issue of warrant in certain cases

(1) The Tribunal may provide in a possession order under this Part in relation to rented premises, a room in a rooming house, a caravan or site in a caravan park or a Part 4A site that the issue of a warrant of possession be postponed for a period specified in the order, if the Tribunal is satisfied that—

(a) the renter, resident or site tenant (as the case may be) would suffer hardship if the issue of the warrant were not postponed; and

(b) the hardship would be greater than any hardship that the residential rental provider, rooming house operator, caravan park owner, caravan owner, site owner or mortgagee (as the case may be) would suffer because of the postponement.

(2) The period of postponement specified in the order must not exceed 30 days after the date that the order is made. (3) This section does not apply to—

(a) an order made on the application of—

(i) a residential rental provider who has given a notice to vacate the rented premises under section 91ZI, 91ZJ, 91ZK or 91ZL; or (ii) a rooming house operator who has given a notice to vacate the room in the rooming house under section 142ZB, 142ZC, 142ZD or 142ZE; or (iii) a caravan park owner or caravan owner who has given a notice to vacate under section 206AQ, 206AR, 206AS or 206AT; or (iv) a site owner who has given a notice to vacate the Part 4A site under section 207W, 207X,  207Y or 207Z; or

(b) an order made under Division 2.

353 Immediate issue of warrant if failure to comply during postponement

On the application of the residential rental provider, rooming house operator, caravan park owner, caravan owner, site owner or mortgagee of rented premises, a rooming house, a caravan, a caravan park, a Part 4A site or Part 4A park (as the case may be), the Tribunal may order that a warrant of possession be issued without delay if the Tribunal is satisfied that, during any period of postponement specified in an order under section 352, the renter, resident or site tenant—

(a) has failed to pay any rent accrued due; or (b) has otherwise failed to comply with the residential rental agreement, residency right, residency agreement or site agreement; or (c) has contravened a provision of this Act relating to the residential rental agreement, residency right or site agreement.

354 Extension of time for warrant to be executed

(1) On the application of the person who obtained the warrant of possession, the Tribunal may from time to time make an order extending the time in which the warrant of possession may be executed. (2) An order under subsection (1) must not at any one time extend the time in which a warrant of possession may be executed by more than 30 days after the day on which the time for execution of the warrant would otherwise expire. (3) An order may not be made under subsection (1) if the time for execution of the warrant has passed. (4) This section does not apply to a warrant issued under a possession order made under Division 2.

355 Warrant of possession

(1) A warrant of possession under this Part must—

(a) be in a form prescribed by rules made under the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998; and (b) be directed—

(i) to a police officer; or (ii) to an authorised person; and

(c) give brief details of the possession order; and

(d) be signed by the principal registrar.

(2) The warrant of possession authorises the person to whom it is directed—

(a) to enter the rented premises, room and rooming house, building, site or caravan (as the case may be), by force if necessary; and

(b) with such assistance as is necessary—

(i) to compel all persons for the time being occupying the rented premises, room (other than a shared room), building, site or caravan (as the case may be) to vacate and give possession of them to the applicant for the order under which the warrant is issued; or (ii) to compel any person named in the order to vacate a shared room.

(3) A warrant of possession does not authorise the person to whom it is directed to remove any goods from rented premises or a room in a rooming house, building, or a site or caravan. (4) Entry under a warrant of possession must not be made—

(a) between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.; or (b) on a Sunday or public holiday.

(5) The Minister may authorise any person or class of persons either generally or in a particular case to execute warrants of possession.

356 Lapsing of possession order and lapsing or cancellation of warrant of possession

(1) A possession order under this Part is discharged if the applicant for the order does not apply for the issue of a warrant of possession within 6 months after the date of the possession order. (2) A warrant of possession under this Part lapses if it is not executed—

(a) subject to paragraph (b), within the time stated in the order; or (b) if the Tribunal has extended the time within which a warrant may be executed, within the further time that the Tribunal by order allows.

(3) The Tribunal may at any time cancel a warrant of possession issued under this Part.

357 Execution of warrant

As soon as practicable, but not later than 60 days after a warrant of possession is issued, the person to whom the warrant is addressed must—

(a) return the warrant to the principal registrar; and (b) specify in writing whether the warrant has or has not been executed.

358 Offence to re-enter rooming house, site or caravan

(1) A person who is removed from a rooming house or in the case of a building in respect of which notice under section 142ZO was given, a building, under a warrant of possession must not re-enter and take up possession of a room in the rooming house or that building.

Penalty: 60 penalty units.

(2) A person who is removed from a site or caravan under a warrant of possession must not re-enter and take up possession of the site or caravan.

Penalty: 60 penalty units.

(3) A person who is removed from a Part 4A site under a warrant of possession must not re-enter and take up possession of the Part 4A site.

Penalty: 20 penalty units.

Division 5—Sheriff's powers to remove caravans

359 Removal of caravan from a caravan park

The principal registrar must notify the sheriff as soon as possible after a warrant of possession is returned if—

(a) a resident and any other occupants have been removed from a site under the warrant of possession; and (b) the possession order under which the warrant of possession was issued directed the removal of the caravan on the site from the caravan park.

360 Sheriff's powers to remove

(1) After receiving a notice under section 359, the sheriff must remove the caravan and goods in it from the caravan park and store the caravan and any goods in a safe place. (2) Subject to subsection (3), the sheriff may destroy or dispose of goods if they are—

(a) of no monetary value; or (b) perishable foodstuffs; or (c) dangerous.

(3) If personal documents are left in a caravan removed in accordance with subsection (1), the sheriff may remove them but must not destroy or dispose of them, except in accordance with sections 361, 362 and 363.

361 What happens to personal documents?

If personal documents are left behind, the sheriff must—

(a) store the documents for a period of 90 days; and (b) before the end of the 90 day storage period, cause a notice to be inserted in the prescribed form in a newspaper circulating generally throughout Victoria of the sheriff's intention to dispose of the personal documents at the end of the 90 day period.

362 Disposal of personal documents after 90 days

(1) If notice has been given in accordance with section 361 and the personal documents have not been claimed by the former resident or any other person giving satisfactory evidence of the person's right to them by the end of the 90 day storage period, then at the end of that period, the sheriff may dispose of the personal documents in any manner that he or she thinks fit. (2) Nothing in this section affects the operation of any other Act or law affecting the destruction or disposition of the documents. (3) If the sheriff has disposed of personal documents in accordance with this section, the sheriff may apply to the Tribunal for compensation for the costs of removal and storage of the documents, including the publication of a notice under section 361. (4) An application under subsection (3) must be made within 6 months after the personal documents have been disposed of.

363 Reclaiming documents before disposal

The former resident or any other person giving satisfactory evidence of the person's right to personal documents may reclaim personal documents removed by the sheriff before they are disposed of in accordance with section 362 if he or she pays to the sheriff any reasonable costs in relation to the removal and storage of those documents, including the publication of a notice under section 361.

364 Rightful owner may claim caravan and goods

The former resident or any other person giving satisfactory evidence of the person's right to do so may reclaim the caravan or any goods (other than personal documents or goods to which section 360(2) applies) within 90 days of the caravan's removal from the caravan park on payment of reasonable costs incurred by the sheriff in removing and storing or paying for the removal and storage of the caravan or goods.

365 Sale of caravan and goods

(1) If the caravan or goods (other than personal documents) are not reclaimed, the sheriff may sell the caravan or goods by a public auction advertised in a newspaper circulating generally throughout Victoria at least 14 days before the auction. (2) If the caravan or any goods are not sold at the public auction, the sheriff may dispose of the caravan or goods in any manner that he or she thinks fit.

(3) The proceeds of the sale or disposal remaining after deducting the reasonable costs incurred in—

(a) removing and storing or paying for the removal and storage of the caravan and any goods; and (b) selling or attempting to sell and disposing of the caravan and any goods—

must be dealt with as unclaimed money in accordance with Part 3 of the Unclaimed Money Act 2008 as if the sheriff were a business to which that Part applies.

(4) If the proceeds of the sale or disposal are insufficient to meet the reasonable costs incurred in—

(a) removing and storing or paying for the removal and storage of the caravan and any goods; and (b) selling or attempting to sell and disposing of the caravan and any goods—

the sheriff may apply to the Tribunal for compensation for those costs.

(5) An application under subsection (4) must be made within 6 months after the date of the sale or disposal under this section.

366 Tribunal may order compensation from Residential Tenancies Fund

(1) On an application under section 362(3) or section 365(4), the Tribunal may—

(a) make an order for compensation; or (b) dismiss the application.

(2) Compensation in respect of an order made under this section must be paid from the Residential Tenancies Fund.