Renting in the ACT
Get help with bond and rent costs, find affordable housing, and check your rights and responsibilities as a renter or landlord.
Bond and rent help
Find an affordable rental
Rental homes for Canberrans on low or moderate incomes.
Affordable rentals for over 65s
Low-cost rentals for pensioners, provided through Housing ACT.
Public and community housing
Applying for and renting public housing, including rental rebates.
Bond loan
Interest-free loans to pay the bond for a private rental property.
The Renting Book
The Renting Book helps tenants, landlords and agents in the ACT understand their rights and responsibilities so everyone can rent safely, fairly and confidently.
Before renting
Rental ads, condition checks and pets
Learn what rental ads must include, what to check before you rent and rules for keeping pets.
Renting a unit or townhouse
Landlords must give tenants a unit rental title certificate before they sign a lease.
Ceiling insulation
Landlords must meet the legal requirement for minimum ceiling insulation in rental homes.
Leases, bond and condition reports
Understand what’s in a tenancy agreement, how bond and utilities work, and what to check when you start a tenancy.
Rent out your property as an affordable rental
Landlords may get a land tax exemption for renting out a property below market rent.
During a tenancy
Resolve problems
Help to stay in your home
Free support through the Tenancy Assistance Program if you're worried about losing your home.
Legal advice for tenants
Free advice from the Tenancy Advice Service to help you understand your rights or resolve disputes.
Legal advice for public and community housing tenants
Canberra Community Law gives free legal advice for tenants in public and community housing. This includes tenants with Housing ACT or an ACT community housing provider.
Resolve a rental dispute
ACAT decides rental issues such as bonds, rent increases and repairs.
Problems with a real estate agent
Tenants or landlords can lodge a complaint about the real estate agent who manages their property on the Access Canberra website.
Reduce household costs
Ending a tenancy
Giving notice, final inspections and bond release
How to end a tenancy, give notice, arrange the final inspection and release the bond.
When landlords can end a tenancy
Rental laws landlords must follow to end a lease, including giving notice.
Ending a tenancy due to family violence
How to end your tenancy early if you've experienced domestic or family violence.