How to Raise the Rent in Victoria (2026): Rules, Notice & Timing for Landlords

If you self-manage a rental in Victoria, raising the rent feels simple until you realise getting the process wrong can make the increase invalid. Here's the plain-English version of what Victorian landlords need to know.

How often can you increase the rent in Victoria?

In Victoria there are firm limits on how frequently rent can be increased for a residential tenancy — generally only once within a set minimum period (commonly once every 12 months for recent agreements). Increasing more often than the law allows makes the increase invalid, even if the tenant agrees.

Before you raise the rent, confirm two things on consumer.vic.gov.au:

1. The current minimum interval between increases.
2. Whether your agreement type (fixed-term vs periodic) and its start date affect that interval.

How much notice do you have to give?

Victoria requires rental providers to give the renter written notice in advance of a rent increase, using the correct prescribed form, with a minimum number of days' notice (commonly cited as 60 days).

Two things make or break a valid increase:

• The right form. Victoria uses a prescribed rent-increase notice. A casual email or text usually does not satisfy the requirement.
• The right amount of notice, counted correctly. The countdown runs from when the notice is properly given — and how you serve it (in person, post, electronically) can change the effective date.

The correct step-by-step process

1. Check your timing. Has enough time passed since the last increase (or the start of the tenancy)?
2. Decide a reasonable amount. Victorian renters can ask Consumer Affairs Victoria to assess an increase they believe is excessive.
3. Use the prescribed notice. Complete the official Victorian rent-increase notice with the new amount and the date it takes effect.
4. Serve it properly and count the notice period from the correct date.
5. Keep a record of what you sent, how, and when.

Common mistakes that make an increase invalid

• Increasing more often than the law allows.
• Using an email or text instead of the prescribed form.
• Giving less than the required notice, or miscounting the start date.
• Not accounting for extra days when serving by post.
• No record of service.

How LORDLY helps

For a Victorian property, LORDLY tracks when you're next eligible to increase the rent, drafts the correct Victorian notice with the right dates, and reminds you of the notice period so the effective date is valid.

You stay in control: LORDLY prepares the paperwork and reminds you — you review it and serve it yourself. It doesn't give legal advice or send notices on your behalf.