How much notice does my landlord have to give before putting up my rent in Western Australia?
Yes, your landlord must give you at least 60 days' written notice on an official form before increasing your rent in Western Australia. The notice must clearly state the new amount and the exact date the increase takes effect.
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How it works in practice
Legal Notice Requirements
In Western Australia, a landlord cannot simply inform you of a rent increase verbally or via a casual text message. They are legally required to provide you with at least 60 days' written notice before the new rent amount can take effect.
This notice must be provided using the official, legally approved form (such as Form 10 or Form 11, depending on the lease type). It must explicitly detail both the proposed new rental amount and the specific date from which the new rent will be payable.
Frequency of Rent Increases
Under recent legislative changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA), rent increases are generally limited to once every 12 months. This protection ensures tenants have financial predictability and are not subjected to frequent price hikes throughout the year.
If you are on a fixed-term tenancy, the rent can only be increased if the lease agreement explicitly includes a provision allowing for it, detailing either the exact new amount or the method used to calculate the increase.
Important exceptions
There are specific exceptions depending on the structure of your lease agreement. If you are on a fixed-term lease, rent cannot be increased during the term unless your written contract specifically includes a rent review clause.
Additionally, if the rent is calculated based on a tenant's income (such as in social or community housing), the 60-day notice period may not apply in the exact same manner, and the housing provider will follow specific statutory guidelines.
Finally, if a property changes ownership, the new landlord is still legally bound by the existing lease terms and cannot increase the rent faster than previously permitted.
What you should do now
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Check your current lease agreement to determine if you are on a fixed-term or periodic tenancy, and look for any rent review clauses.
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Verify that the landlord provided a full 60 days' written notice using the correct official form required in Western Australia.
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Confirm that the proposed rent increase complies with the 12-month frequency limit from your lease start date or the last rent increase.
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Contact the landlord or property manager in writing to negotiate the increase if you believe the proposed amount is excessive for the current market.
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Seek advice from WA Consumer Protection or a tenant advocacy service if the notice is invalid or the landlord refuses to negotiate an unreasonable increase.
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