RENTCHECK NSW · FREE PACK · NSW RENTERS · GENERAL INFORMATION, NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Got a rent-increase notice? Check it before you sign.
Two dates tell you most of the story: when the notice reached you, and when the increase starts. Plot them on the 60-day gauge below, then work the full pack: notice checker, pushback letters, evidence, deadlines.
- Free during staging, no payments
- Runs in your browser: nothing leaves your device
- General information, not legal advice
NSW rule summaries current as of 28 September 2026 · Solicitor review of this content is pending
THE 60-DAY GAUGE
DEMO DATES SHOWN · ENTER YOUR OWNThe day it landed in your hands, not the date printed on it.
The start date stated on the notice.
When your rent last went up, for the 12-month band.
60-day band
Clears the gauge
63 days' notice: the 60-day band clears on these dates.
12-month band
Add your last increase date
Rent can generally go up only once in any 12 months.
General information, not a legal finding. The gauge does date maths against the general NSW requirements. It can't see your lease history, tribunal orders or exemptions. The full 7-question checker goes deeper.
01 · THE PACK
Five tools, one afternoon
Work them in order. Everything runs in your browser: nothing you type leaves your device, and everything is free. All five tools below are the full pack, working in your browser.
Notice checker
Seven plain questions about the notice in your hand: was it in writing, is the date 60+ days out, has it been 12 months? Get a read on what looks valid and what to query.
Evidence checklist
What to gather before you respond: comparable listings, condition photos, your repair-request history, payment record. A negotiator's folder, assembled in an hour.
Pushback letters
Four copy-paste templates: ask for justification, counter with a smaller increase, dispute a defective notice, request reconsideration on hardship grounds.
Deadline tracker
Enter your notice date and get your key dates: the earliest the increase can take effect, your window to apply to the Tribunal, and a week-by-week action plan.
Official pathways
Where to go next if pushing back yourself isn't enough: NSW Fair Trading, the Tenants' Union of NSW, your local tenancy advice service, and the Tribunal.
The golden rule
Do everything in writing. A phone call is a rumour; an email is a record. Every template in this pack keeps a paper trail from day one.
02 · THE BANDS
The NSW rules in 60 seconds
General information about the NSW rent-increase rules, current as of 28 September 2026. Solicitor review of this content is pending.
60
Days' written notice
Count the days
A rent increase generally needs at least 60 days' written notice, stating the new rent amount and the date it starts, signed, dated and addressed to you.
12
Months between increases
Watch the frequency
Rent can generally only go up once in any 12-month period, and not within the first 12 months of your tenancy. This applies to most lease types.
30
Days to challenge
Know the window
There's no cap on the amount, but if you think it's excessive, you generally have 30 days from receiving the notice to apply to the Tribunal for review.
03 · CALIBRATION
What the gauge actually checks
The full checker runs seven checks against the general NSW requirements. No black box: here's the whole instrument.
CHECK 01
In writing: a letter, email or form counts; a verbal "rent's going up" doesn't.
CHECK 02
New amount stated: what you'll actually pay, not just "+$55".
CHECK 03
Effective date stated: a clear date, not "soon".
CHECK 04
Signed, dated, addressed: to you, from the landlord or agent.
CHECK 05
60+ days' notice: counted from when it reached you.
CHECK 06
12-month frequency: once per 12 months, none in the first 12.
CHECK 07
Fixed-term clause: does your lease allow a mid-term increase?
T1 · TOOL 01
Notice checker: seven questions
Answer each question about the notice in your hand. The checker gives you a read on what looks valid and what to query. General information only, not a legal finding.
General information only, not legal advice. The checker cannot see your lease history, tribunal orders or exemptions. If anything here does not match your situation, get free tenancy advice before you act.
T2 · TOOL 02
Evidence checklist: the negotiator's folder
What to gather before you respond. A negotiator's folder, assembled in an hour. Tick items off as you collect them.
The notice itself
Comparables
Condition and history
Hardship (only if relevant)
T3 · TOOL 03
Pushback letters: four copy-paste templates
Templates are general information, not legal advice. Fill in the [bracketed] details, keep the tone calm and factual, and always send in writing. Rule summaries current as of 28 September 2026.
Template 1: Ask for justification
Use when: the increase arrived with no explanation. You are asking for the basis before you respond.
Subject: Request for information supporting the proposed rent increase
Dear [agent / landlord name],
I am writing about your rent increase notice dated [notice date], which proposes an increase from $[current weekly rent] to $[proposed weekly rent] per week, effective [effective date].
Before I respond, please provide the basis for the proposed amount, including any comparable rents you relied on. Please also confirm that the notice meets the NSW requirements for a valid rent increase notice.
I will respond in writing once I have had an opportunity to consider this information.
Kind regards,
[Your full name]
[Rental address]
[Date]
Template 2: Counter with a smaller increase
Use when: the notice looks valid but the amount is above comparable rents. Attach your evidence.
Subject: Counter-proposal to the proposed rent increase
Dear [agent / landlord name],
Thank you for your rent increase notice dated [notice date]. I have looked at comparable current listings in [suburb] for similar [number]-bedroom properties, which are advertised at $[low] to $[high] per week (screenshots attached, dated [date]).
I have been a tenant since [tenancy start date] with rent paid on time [add if true: and I note the following outstanding repair issues: [brief list]].
On that basis, I propose $[counter-proposal] per week instead of $[proposed]. I am happy to discuss, and I will put any agreement we reach in writing.
Kind regards,
[Your full name]
[Rental address]
[Date]
Template 3: Dispute a defective notice
Use when: the notice fails one of the seven checks. Name the defect precisely and ask for a compliant re-issue.
Subject: Defect in rent increase notice dated [notice date]
Dear [agent / landlord name],
I am writing about your rent increase notice dated [notice date]. I believe the notice may not meet the NSW requirements because [delete as applicable: it was not given in writing / it does not state the new rent amount / it does not state a clear effective date / it gives less than 60 days' notice: it reached me on [date received] and takes effect on [effective date], which is [number] days].
Please confirm whether you intend to re-issue a compliant notice. I am not refusing a lawful increase; I am asking that the notice meet the legal requirements first.
Kind regards,
[Your full name]
[Rental address]
[Date]
Template 4: Request reconsideration on hardship grounds
Use when: your circumstances have changed and you need the increase reconsidered or phased. Keep it brief and factual.
Subject: Request for reconsideration of rent increase on hardship grounds
Dear [agent / landlord name],
I am writing about your rent increase notice dated [notice date], proposing an increase to $[proposed] per week effective [effective date].
Since [month/year], my circumstances have changed: [one or two factual sentences, e.g. reduced hours at work]. I am asking you to reconsider the increase, or to phase it in over a longer period.
I have been a reliable tenant since [tenancy start date] and I will keep paying the current rent of $[current] per week while we discuss this. I can provide supporting documents on request.
Kind regards,
[Your full name]
[Rental address]
[Date]
Templates are general information, not legal advice, and make no legal findings about your lease. For advice about your situation, speak to a tenancy adviser.
T4 · TOOL 04
Deadline tracker: your key dates
Enter the date the notice reached you. The tracker does the date maths and lays out a week-by-week plan. General information only.
Date maths only, against the general NSW requirements summarised on this page (current as of 28 September 2026). It cannot see your lease history, tribunal orders or exemptions. Verify with NSW Fair Trading before acting.
T5 · TOOL 05
Official pathways: where to go next
If pushing back yourself is not enough, these are the free, official next steps. We sell nothing here: these services give actual advice about your situation, free.
NSW Fair Trading
The state regulator for tenancy rules. Verify the current rent-increase requirements before you act, and ask about your options.
Tenants' Union of NSW
Free factsheets and letter templates, including the rent-increases factsheet. Start here: tenants.org.au/factsheet-04-rent-increases. The NSW government's rent-increase rules page is at nsw.gov.au.
Your local tenancy advice service
Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Services give free, confidential advice about your actual notice. Find yours through the Tenants' Union of NSW.
LawAccess NSW and Legal Aid NSW
Free legal information (LawAccess) and free legal help for eligible renters (Legal Aid NSW).
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
If you believe the increase is excessive, you generally have 30 days from receiving the notice to apply to the Tribunal for review. Rule summaries current as of 28 September 2026.
The golden rule, again
Do everything in writing. A phone call is a rumour; an email is a record. Take the paper trail with you to every one of these services.
04 · STRAIGHT UP
What this pack is and isn't
What the pack does
Practical tools, free, in your browser.
- Checks your notice against the general NSW requirements
- Gives you letters, scripts and checklists you can use today
- Maps your deadlines so nothing slips
- Points you to free tenancy advice and the official pathways
What it doesn't do
Boundaries are part of the product.
- It is not legal advice, and makes no legal findings about your lease
- It can't see your full lease history, tribunal orders or exemptions
- It won't negotiate with your agent for you
- It doesn't replace a solicitor or tenancy advocate for disputes
05 · FAQ
Questions renters ask
Is this legal advice?
Has a solicitor reviewed this?
The Tenants' Union has free factsheets and letter templates: why use this pack?
Does it cost anything?
Can my rent go up at all if I'm on a fixed-term lease?
What if my agent only wants to talk on the phone?
What if the rules change?
Don't just sign it. Put it on the gauge.
Start with the notice checker: seven questions, five minutes, then letters, evidence and deadlines.
Early staging preview: this page is being tested before launch, so there are no reviews or ratings yet.