Consumer Rights
Know your rights as a buyer, borrower, or customer. This category covers refunds, warranties, unfair contracts, debt collection, product safety, and how to make a complaint that actually gets results.
No, you cannot legally fix an issue yourself and deduct the cost directly from your rent in the ACT. Withholding rent is a breach of your tenancy agreement. However, for urgent repairs, you can authorize a qualified tradesperson and claim reimbursement from your landlord if they ignore your requests.
Your landlord must fix any damage or issues that make the property unsafe, insecure, or unlivable in the ACT. They are legally required to handle both urgent repairs, like burst water pipes, and non-urgent repairs to maintain the property in a reasonable state.
Your landlord must fix urgent repairs "as soon as necessary" after being notified in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). While the law does not specify an exact timeframe, the response must reflect the severity of the issue, such as a burst water pipe or gas leak.
Your landlord must give you at least 24 hours' written notice before inspecting your home in Tasmania. They cannot show up unannounced. Routine inspections are strictly limited to once every three months, and the visit must occur between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm.
No, your landlord cannot legally keep your rental bond for normal wear and tear in Tasmania. You are only financially responsible for actual damage caused intentionally or through negligence. Ordinary deterioration from everyday living, such as faded paint or slightly worn carpets, cannot be deducted from your bond.
No, true no-fault evictions are not legal in Tasmania for ongoing leases. A landlord must always provide a legally valid reason to end a tenancy. However, they can legally ask you to leave without you being at fault if your fixed-term lease is simply expiring.
No, no-fault evictions are no longer legal in the ACT. A no-fault eviction previously allowed landlords to remove tenants without a reason. Recent law changes mean landlords must now provide a legally valid and specific reason, such as selling the property, before asking you to leave.
Yes, your landlord can show your home to potential buyers while you live there in the ACT. However, they must provide at least 48 hours' written notice before any inspection. Showings are legally limited to reasonable times, and you have the right to be present.
A landlord must give you at least eight weeks' written notice before increasing your rent in the ACT. Additionally, rent can only be increased once every 12 months. The notice must explicitly state the new rent amount and the exact date the increase takes effect.
Your landlord must give you at least 7 days' written notice before conducting a routine inspection in the ACT. They are legally limited to inspecting the rental property a maximum of twice per 12-month period, plus one initial inspection within the first month of your lease.
In the ACT, the cost to break a lease depends on your agreement. If your contract includes a break fee clause, it is legally capped at six weeks' rent during the first half of your lease, and four weeks' rent during the second half.
No, your landlord cannot legally walk into your home without telling you in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). They must provide proper written notice before entering for routine inspections or non-urgent repairs. Unannounced visits breach your right to quiet enjoyment, except in genuine emergencies.
Yes, your landlord can take money from your bond for cleaning in the ACT if you do not leave the property reasonably clean. However, they cannot charge you if the home is in the same condition as when you moved in, excluding normal fair wear and tear.
If your landlord refuses to release your bond in the ACT, you do not have to wait for their permission. You can submit a bond refund claim directly to the ACT Revenue Office. If the landlord disputes the claim, they must formally apply to the tribunal.
No, a landlord cannot physically evict you without going to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT). If you refuse to leave after receiving a notice to vacate, they must apply for an eviction order. Landlords cannot legally change locks or remove belongings themselves in the ACT.
You must give at least three weeks' written notice to move out in the ACT for a periodic lease. If you are on a fixed-term lease, you can provide three weeks' notice to end the agreement on or after the official end date of your contract.