Rent Increase Notice

This Rent Increase Notice can be used by a landlord to inform tenants in a rental property that their rental payments will be increasing. By using this notice, the change in rent is documented in writing, preventing misunderstandings, miscommunication, and future disputes over the rent amount due.

From time to time, landlords may want to increase the rent that they charge their tenants. For example, landlords often do this once per year, or when they renew the lease.

When doing this, landlords often choose to send a written notice to tenants, confirming that rent will be increased. This notice helps landlords to notify tenants that they are doing this, and to provide a written record of the new arrangements.

In many cases, it may also be a requirement under the lease or under the relevant tenancy laws that the landlord provides written notice before increasing the rent. This notice helps satisfy these requirements.

How to use this document

Firstly the landlord should review their lease and any relevant tenancy laws to make sure they are legally entitled to increase the rent.

The landlord should also review their lease and relevant tenancy laws to see whether there are any requirements regarding how this notice should be provided, or how much notice must be provided. For example, in many cases, the lease might say something about the form of notice (for example, whether it can be provided electronically such as by email, or whether it needs to be provided in hard copy and/or by registered post). There might be rules regarding the address(es) to which it must be sent. There might also be rules regarding the amount of notice that the landlord must provide - in other words, how long before the rent increase takes effect, that this notice must be provided.

This notice allows the landlord to explain the specifics of rent collection, including the original rent amount, the new rent amount, and the frequency with which the tenant is required to pay rent. The landlord can also make note of the total amount that the rent payment will be increasing and when the increase will come into effect. Finally, the landlord can provide contact information to the tenant in case the tenant has any questions or concerns about the new rent amount.

Once the notice is completed, the landlord should send a copy to all tenants on the lease. The landlord should retain a copy of the notice for their own records, as well as evidence of the fact that they have provided the notice (for example, a send receipt or a copy of an email confirmation), in case the tenant later disputes having received the notice.

Applicable law

Different laws may apply to this matter depending on which state or territory the property is located in, and whether the property has been leased for residential, commercial or retail purposes.

Retail leases are a sub-category of commercial leases (usually for properties that involve a "retail" element, such as a shop front). The laws in each state and territory regarding retail leases also provide more protections to tenants of retail properties than those of ordinary commercial properties.

Each state and territory also has its own legislation regarding residential tenancies.

Leases are also subject to general principles of contract law, as provided by the common law.

Further information or legal assistance, particularly in relation to residential properties is available from consumer affairs offices, tenant unions or tenant advice services in each state and territory. Community legal centres may also provide assistance.

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