Kolmeo's Payment Philosophy: Compliant Since Day One

Leading the Way While Others Catch Up 

As Australian states roll out new legislation banning fees for rent payments, Kolmeo stands proud with a simple truth: we've never charged tenants to pay their rent. Not once. Not ever. 

While Victoria's groundbreaking legislation passed in March 2025 (and coming into effect March 2026) and Queensland's new requirements came into effect in September 2024, Kolmeo has been compliant from the very beginning. For us, this wasn't about waiting for laws to change, it was about doing what's right. 

The Triangle: Three Sides in Perfect Balance 

Kolmeo means triangle. It's more than just a name, it's our philosophy. 

Our platform is designed to create harmony and happiness between property managers, owners, and tenants. How? By balancing the needs of all three sides. 

For too long, the rental property experience has been tilted, with one side bearing disproportionate costs and inconveniences. We reimagined what renting could be when all three points of the triangle: owner, tenant, and property manager are brought into balance. 

The Tenant Experience: Always Front of Mind 

Since launching in 2020, we've held one principle sacred: tenants should never pay fees just to pay their rent. 

This belief has guided every decision we've made about our payment systems: 

• BPAY: Free for tenants 

• Paycode: Free for tenants 

• Direct debit: Free for tenants 

• Debit now: Free for tenants 

No hidden charges. No default fees that punish those who can least afford it. No complex terms and conditions that shift business costs onto renters.  

Over $4 billion in rental payments has flowed through Kolmeo via our modern payments platform called Sonata, and not a single tenant has been charged a fee. That's not just a statistic, it's a commitment. 

Why This Matters More Than Ever 

The rental landscape is changing. New regulations across Australia reflect a growing understanding that charging tenants to pay rent is fundamentally unfair: 

• Tasmania led the nation by banning rent payment fees back in 2013  

• South Australia requires landlords to provide electronic payment options with no third-party fees (already in effect)  

• Victoria has made it an offence for rent tech platforms to charge tenants fees (coming into effect 31 March 2026)  

• New South Wales mandates bank transfer as a free payment option, with no third-party app requirements (effective May 2025)  

• Queensland now requires landlords to offer at least two payment methods, including one free option (since September 2024)  

• Western Australia requires fee-free bank transfer and Centrepay options (effective May 2025) 

Most of these laws are catching up to what Kolmeo has practiced since day one. 

The Real Cost of  "Convenience" Fees 

Across the industry, many third-party rent payment platforms have charged tenants regular fees for using their services. Even more concerning are the default fees, penalties when a payment doesn't clear due to insufficient funds. 

For vulnerable tenants living paycheck to paycheck, these default fees can spiral. We've heard stories of renters owing more in accumulated fees than a week's worth of rent, simply because their income or pension arrived one day late. 

This is exactly the kind of imbalance Kolmeo was built to eliminate. When one side of the triangle bears unfair costs, the whole structure becomes unstable. 

Security Without the Cost 

Free doesn't mean compromised. Kolmeo's Sonata payment ecosystem is built with security as a top priority: 

• Advanced encryption and security measures protect every transaction 

• Our payments partner complies with Australia's Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) 

• Money flows securely and directly, with system-generated payments based on pre-approved instructions 

Security and fairness complement rather than compete with each other. 

Transparency as Standard Practice 

Transparency is another cornerstone of our triangle philosophy. We believe all parties deserve to know: 

• Who has access to their information 

• How their data is being used and protected 

• What their payment options are 

• What, if any, costs they might incur ($0 for Tenants and Owners) 

We want tenants and owners to understand who we are, what we do, and how we're protecting their interests. 

We don't share data without consent. We've never sold data, and we never will. This transparency builds trust, and trust is what keeps the triangle balanced. 

Better for Property Managers Too 

When we say we balance all three sides, we mean it. Property managers benefit from Kolmeo's payment systems too: 

• Automated processing reduces administrative burden 

• Clear payment tracking and reporting 

• Multiple payment options mean fewer late payments 

• Efficient operations without shifting costs to tenants 

The beauty of our approach is that efficiency for property managers doesn't come at the expense of tenants. Everyone wins. 

The Future of Renting 

As more states introduce legislation to protect tenants from payment fees, we're excited to see the industry moving in the right direction. These laws validate what we've known all along: renters deserve convenient, cost-free ways to pay their rent. 

At Kolmeo, we're constantly asking: What else can we do to bring the three sides of the rental triangle into better balance? How can we make the experience more engaging, productive? 

Every feature we build, every policy we implement, and every partner we choose is evaluated through the lens of our triangle philosophy: 

• Does this serve property managers by making their work more efficient? 

• Does this give owners transparency and peace of mind? 

• Does this respect tenants and make renting hassle-free? 

When we can answer yes to all three, we know we're on the right path. 

The triangle is stronger when all three sides work in harmony. That's not just our philosophy, it's our promise. 

Kolmeo: Where property management meets fairness, transparency, and balance. Since 2020, and always.