How much notice does my landlord have to give before putting up my rent in the ACT?
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.
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How it works in practice
Legal Notice Requirements for ACT
In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), landlords are legally required to provide you with at least eight weeks' written notice before increasing your rent. This timeline ensures you have adequate time to adjust your budget, negotiate, or decide if you want to move out.
The written notice must clearly state the proposed new rental amount and the specific date that the increase will begin. If the notice does not meet these strict legal requirements, or if it is only given verbally, it is invalid and you are not obligated to pay the higher amount.
Limits on Rent Increase Frequency
Under the ACT's Residential Tenancies Act, landlords are strictly restricted in how often they can raise your rent. Rent can only be increased once every 12 months, regardless of whether you are on a periodic lease or signing successive fixed-term agreements.
Challenging an Excessive Increase
The ACT has specific rules to protect tenants from excessive rent hikes. An increase is generally considered excessive if it is greater than the prescribed amount, which is tied to the rents component of the Canberra Consumer Price Index (CPI). If your landlord proposes an increase above this threshold, they must either get your written agreement or apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) for approval before the increase can legally take effect.
Important exceptions
There are specific exceptions regarding when rent can be increased in the ACT. If you are currently on a fixed-term lease, your landlord cannot increase your rent during the term unless the original tenancy agreement explicitly states the amount of the increase or the exact method for calculating it.
Additionally, if your landlord has made significant improvements to the property or the property's underlying costs have dramatically changed, they can apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) to approve a rent increase that exceeds standard legal thresholds, even if you do not agree to the hike.
What you should do now
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Review the written notice carefully to ensure it provides the required eight weeks of notice and clearly states the new rental amount.
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Check the date of your last rent increase to confirm it has been at least 12 months since the rent was last raised.
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Compare the proposed rent increase against the current Canberra CPI threshold to determine if the hike is legally considered excessive.
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Contact your landlord or property manager in writing to negotiate the proposed rent increase if you believe the new amount is unfair or unjustified.
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Apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) for an independent review if your landlord insists on enforcing an excessive rent hike.
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