One of the many ways Australians are being pinched by the rising cost of living is by increasing rental prices.

According to SQM Research, the national average weekly cost of a rental property has risen by 18 per cent in the year ending January 12, 2023.

The spike is even bigger in the capital cities, which have collectively seen a 24.6 per cent increase in the same period.

So what can renters actually do if they receive the dreaded email telling them they need to pay more to live in their home? And how often can landlords increase the rent?

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Here's what you need to know.

How often can a landlord raise rent and is it legal?

Yes, rental increases are completely legal, but their frequency will depend on what state or territory you live in and, in some jurisdictions, what kind of tenancy agreement you have.

Generally speaking, landlords cannot increase the rent more than once every six months or once a year.

In New South Wales, the ACT and Victoria, for example, it's the latter, while Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory allow for price hikes every six months.

Check with your relevant state government body for the most up-to-date, relevant information for your situation.

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How much notice period does a landlord have to give for a rent increase?

For the most part, landlords in Australia have to provide 60 days' notice of any rental increase, although there are three exceptions.

Queensland (two calendar months) and the ACT (eight weeks) are slightly different but still fairly similar.

The real outlier is the Northern Territory, which only requires its landlords to provide 30 days' notice.

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