Can my landlord increase my rent twice in one year in Victoria?
No, your landlord cannot increase your rent twice in one year in Victoria. For all rental agreements starting on or after 19 June 2019, rent increases are strictly limited to a maximum of once every 12 months. They must also provide 60 days' written notice.
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How it works in practice
Understanding Rent Increases in Victoria
In Victoria, the law strictly regulates how often a landlord can increase your rent to protect tenants from sudden and frequent financial burdens. Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, as amended by recent rental reforms, the frequency of allowable rent increases is capped.
For the vast majority of renters, a landlord can only increase the rent once every 12 months. This rule applies to any rental agreement that started on or after 19 June 2019, which covers almost all current tenancies.
Notice Period Requirements
Even when the 12-month period has passed, your landlord cannot simply start charging you more money immediately. They are legally required to provide you with at least 60 days' written notice before the rent increase can take effect.
This notice must be provided on the official 'Notice of rent increase to renter of rented premises' form. If the landlord fails to use the correct form, or does not give the full 60 days' notice, the rent increase is invalid, and you do not have to pay the higher amount until the correct legal process is followed.
Important exceptions
There is one primary historical exception. If your current periodic lease originally started before 19 June 2019 and you have never signed a new fixed-term agreement since that date, the landlord is technically allowed to increase the rent once every six months.
Additionally, rent cannot be increased during a fixed-term lease unless your tenancy agreement specifically includes a clause detailing the exact amount of the increase or the method used to calculate it. If no such clause exists, the rent must remain the same until the fixed term concludes.
What you should do now
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Check the official start date of your current rental agreement to confirm whether the 12-month rule applies to your tenancy.
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Review your fixed-term lease agreement to see if there is a specific clause that allows for rent increases before the term ends.
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Verify that the landlord provided a full 60 days' written notice using the official Consumer Affairs Victoria form.
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Continue paying your current rent amount if the notice is invalid, but inform your landlord or agent in writing about the error.
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Apply to Consumer Affairs Victoria for a free rent assessment within 30 days if you believe the proposed rent increase is excessive.
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