Frequently asked questions

Check that the notice is on the correct prescribed form (Form 13) and that it gives you at least 90 days before the increase takes effect. Note the date you received it — you have 30 days from receiving the notice to apply for a free CAV assessment if you want to challenge the increase. Keep a copy of everything.

There is no legislated cap on the amount of a rent increase in Victoria. A landlord can propose any amount. However, you can challenge an increase you believe is excessive through the free Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) assessment process.

For most residential tenancies, rent can only be increased once every 12 months. If your rent was increased less than 12 months ago, a new increase notice may not be valid. Different rules can apply to rooming houses and caravan parks — check your lease type.

You must apply to Consumer Affairs Victoria for a rent assessment within 30 days of receiving the written notice of increase. After that deadline, CAV generally cannot accept your application. The 30 days starts from when you actually receive the notice, not from when the increase takes effect.

A CAV rent assessment is a formal review of your rent increase by a Consumer Affairs Victoria assessor. It considers multiple factors including comparable local rents, CPI, the condition of the property, and other criteria. It is completely free for tenants. The assessor provides a written opinion, which you can then use in subsequent processes if needed.

No. CPI (the Consumer Price Index, All Groups, Melbourne) is one factor among many that a CAV assessor considers — it is not a legal cap. An increase below CPI can still be challenged, and an increase above CPI is not automatically excessive. Since 31 March 2026, this has been the explicit legal position.

The CAV assessor provides a written opinion about whether the increase appears excessive. If you disagree with the outcome or the landlord does not reduce the increase, you can apply to the Residential Disputes Resolution Victoria (RDRV) for free mediation, and then to VCAT for a binding decision.

A landlord cannot lawfully issue a 'no-reason' notice to vacate in retaliation for you exercising your rights. If you believe you are being threatened with eviction because you challenged an increase, contact Tenants Victoria for free advice immediately.

The suburb median data comes from the DFFH Rental Report, which only includes suburbs where enough bonds have been lodged to calculate a meaningful median without identifying individuals. Many smaller suburbs and regional areas are not included. If your suburb is missing, this does not affect your right to a CAV assessment — the assessor has access to a broader range of data.

The suburb medians in this tool are calculated from rental bond lodgements over the previous 12 months (the 'moving annual' period). A median is the middle value — half of bonds lodged were for more, half for less. This is not a live market price and not based on current listings. It is updated quarterly.

Yes — the state of repair and condition of the property is explicitly one of the factors a CAV assessor considers. If your landlord has failed to maintain the property, this is a relevant factor to raise in any challenge. Document the issues with photos and written records.

Yes. Tenant-funded improvements are a factor in the assessment. If you paid to upgrade the kitchen, install new flooring, or make other improvements, you should document this and raise it during a CAV assessment. A landlord generally should not benefit from increases partly justified by improvements you paid for.

Tenants Victoria offers free advice to all Victorian renters — by phone, email, and online. Consumer Affairs Victoria has a free helpline. Both are listed in the footer of this site.