New COVID-19 laws could hurt Vic tenants

The freedom of Victorian tenants to choose where they live could be substantially restricted under new COVID-19 laws.

The temporary law is a significant departure from the original one requiring the tenant to provide 28 days' written notice before leaving - no reason needed.

Human rights organisation Liberty Victoria says the change is "unprecedented".

"It puts so much more power in the hands of the landlord," a Liberty spokeswoman said.