Can my landlord increase my rent twice in one year in Tasmania?
No, your landlord cannot increase your rent twice in one year in Tasmania. By law, rent increases are strictly limited to a maximum of once every 12 months for both fixed-term and periodic leases. They must also provide 60 days' written notice before any increase.
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How it works in practice
Rent Increase Limits in Tasmania
In Tasmania, the law strictly regulates how often a landlord can increase your rent to protect tenants from frequent financial hikes. Under the Residential Tenancy Act 1997, a landlord is only permitted to raise your rent once every 12 months. This 12-month rule applies regardless of whether you are on a fixed-term lease or a periodic (rolling) lease.
Notice Requirements
Even if 12 months have passed, your landlord cannot simply demand more money without following the proper legal process. They are required by law to provide you with a minimum of 60 days' written notice before any rent increase can take effect. This notice must state the new rent amount and the exact date it begins.
Fixed-Term Lease Conditions
If you are on a fixed-term lease, there is an additional layer of protection. Your rent cannot be increased during the term of that lease unless your written tenancy agreement explicitly includes a clause that allows for a rent increase and outlines exactly how it will be calculated. If this clause is missing, your rent is locked in until the lease expires.
Important exceptions
There are very few exceptions to the 12-month rent increase rule in Tasmania.
The primary exception applies if a new tenancy agreement is signed. If you move into a new property or sign an entirely new lease agreement with different tenants or terms, the landlord can set a new rental price, which may be higher than the previous one.
Additionally, if the property is managed by a social housing provider, different rent calculation methods based on income may apply, though the frequency of major base rent changes is still regulated. Rent cannot be increased just because the landlord has made unrequested improvements to the property.
What you should do now
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Check your tenancy agreement to see if you are on a fixed-term or periodic lease and whether a rent increase clause exists.
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Review the date of your last rent increase or the start date of your lease to ensure 12 months have passed.
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Verify that the written notice provided by your landlord gives at least 60 days' warning before the increase takes effect.
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Continue paying your current agreed rent amount until the legally valid 60-day notice period has fully expired.
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Contact the Tenants' Union of Tasmania or CBOS if you believe the rent increase is illegal or excessive to dispute it officially.
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