Shattered balcony glass door
I’ve had an ongoing issue with my rental in Victoria, Australia and want advice on whether I should push further or accept the current outcome.
I moved into a 2 bed, 2 bath apartment (with 2 balconies) around late 2024.
# Timeline:
**Dec 2025**: Balcony glass door was damaged/shattered. The crack is on the outside facing glass as it is double glazed. One balcony became unusable. Issue was reported to the building management which claimed that it was a manufacturing fault and will be replaced under warranty by the builder.
**Dec 2025–Apr 2026:** Multiple follow-ups. I was often told by my agent to contact building management/builders directly instead of the agent handling it. No clear repair timeline was provided.
**Apr 2026**: I was told replacement glass was required and being sourced from overseas.
**May 2026**: Agent said repair would likely be completed in May, but no fixed date was given.
**May 2026**: I lodged a non-urgent repair dispute with Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria (RDRV).
**May 2026**: After lodging the case- Agent offered a 5% rent reduction backdated to 29 Dec 2025 for \~5 months, and said repairs were expected in May.
**May 2026:** RDRV advised adjournment for 30 days to allow repairs to be completed. Agent confirmed glass is in transit from China.
**July 2026 (now):** It has been \~7 months since the issue started. Repair still not fully confirmed/installed.
# Current situation:
One balcony is still unusable
Glass door is still awaiting full replacement
Agent has told me the balcony is “safe to use” and has applied tape/plastic film over the cracked double-glazed glass
This balcony is directly attached to my master bedroom, which has no window — it relies entirely on the balcony door for ventilation and airflow
# My question:
Is a 5% rent reduction reasonable for this situation, or should I be pushing further given the duration (\~7 months), loss of amenity, and concerns around using a cracked glass door with temporary repair?
Would appreciate advice from anyone familiar with VIC tenancy/VCAT outcomes.