Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts(1) The ACAT must allow a rental rate increase that is in accordance with the standard residential tenancy terms unless the increase is excessive.
(2) For subsection (1)—
(a) unless the tenant satisfies the ACAT otherwise, a rental rate increase is not excessive if it is less than 20% greater than any increase in the index number over the period since the last rental rate increase or since the beginning of the lease (whichever is later); and
(b) unless the lessor satisfies the ACAT otherwise, a rental rate increase is excessive if it is more than 20% greater than any increase in the index number over the period since the last rental rate increase or since the beginning of the lease (whichever is later).
(3) If a tenant or lessor proposes that a rental rate increase is or is not excessive, the ACAT, in considering whether it is satisfied about the proposal, must consider the following matters:
(a) the rental rate before the proposed increase;
(b) if the lessor previously increased the rental rate while the relevant tenant was tenant—
(i) the amount of the last increase before the proposed increase; and
(ii) the period since that increase;
(c) outgoings or costs of the lessor in relation to the premises;
(d) services provided by the lessor to the tenant;
(e) the value of fixtures and goods supplied by the lessor as part of the tenancy;
(f) the state of repair of the premises;
(g) rental rates for comparable premises;
(h) the value of any work performed or improvements carried out by the tenant with the lessor's consent;
(i) any other matter the ACAT considers relevant.
(4) If the ACAT considers a proposed rental rate increase is excessive but a lesser increase would not be, it may disallow so much of the increase as is excessive.
(5) In subsection (2):
"index number" means the rents component of the housing group of the Consumer Price Index for Canberra published from time to time by the Australian statistician.