The proposal comes after a review into the Residential Tenancies Act and includes requiring landlords and agents to list properties at a fixed price, preventing landlords from inviting higher bids from potential tenants and requiring landlords to give a reason for asking a tenant to move out.

The Australian Conservatives' Rachel Carling-Jenkins said although the Victorian Council of Social Service had expressed support, the Real Estate Institute of Victoria was against most of the changes.

"In light of such wide and varying concerns, I believe any such bill should go through an extensive parliamentary inquiry process where the concerns of renters, mum-and-dad investors, larger investors, and respective lobby groups can air their support, ideas and concerns prior to this legislation being debated," Dr Carling-Jenkins said on Monday.

"It appears that the government has once again failed in the consultation process, leaving us in the dark about their true plans for retail tenancy."

An opposition spokesperson said the announcement was a stunt ahead of the upcoming Northcote by-election ??? where renting is expected to be a hot-button issue in a two-horse between Labor and the Greens ??? and that it wanted more detail.

Consumer affairs minister Marlene Kairouz said: "These reforms are about giving renters better rights and making renting more secure."

The government plans to introduce any changes to parliament next year and is expected to work with all parties to ensure they pass through Parliament.

Landlord Jess Brown said that the changes would not affect property owners already treating their tenants well. She has two rental properties in Canberra and bought another in Carlton after moving to Melbourne last year. She rents another property in Kensington.

"It's made me appreciate much more greatly how exposed you are as a tenant," Ms Brown said. "I think as a landlord I have so many protections already."

If the changes pass, tenants would also be able to keep pets with written consent from the landlord, stopping landlords from unreasonably refusing them.

Ms Brown said she had allowed pets at all her properties, and actually had more damage from tenants with children than those with pets.

"It was accidental damage, I was a bit shocked by it, but I certainly wasn't angry about it," she said. "I have rented to a family again because I don't want to discriminate against anybody."

First-time landlord and uni student Jackson Gravett had also allowed pets at his three-bedroom house in Geelong.

"I think it builds trust. If you just say 'no, I won't allow it, I won't allow it' you're already putting them offside," Mr Gravett said.

Victoria Legal Aid program manager, social inclusion Joel Townsend said landlords had several ways to end a tenancy, and that ending the 120-day "no specified reason" notice was a welcome reform. He said the changes would not affect landlords who are doing the right thing by their tenants.

"The act isn't unduly restrictive, and as reformed it would still not be unduly restrictive - there are still plenty of options for landlords if they are thoughtful and reasonable and attentive to their obligations," he said.

Landlords can terminate a tenancy for many reasons including damage to the property caused by the tenant, failure to pay rent and using the premises for illegal purposes, and these protections would remain if the changes go through.

"It's entirely reasonable to expect that if a landlord is bringing a tenancy to an end, they should give a good reason," Mr Townsend said.

Mr Townsend said the changes had the potential to reduce the number of VCAT cases where tenants were asked to leave without reason, but tenants needed to be aware of their rights, regardless of the potential friendlier laws.

"Alongside any law reform initiative, there's a need for community legal education and a need to encourage people to exercise those rights," Mr Townsend said.