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Before renting

What to check before you rent

Rental advertisements

All ads for rental properties must include:

  • the rent at a fixed amount
  • the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) for the property
  • any special conditions, for example if a tenant will need to seek permission to keep a pet
  • if the premises can be made accessible for individuals with disability
  • if the rental property complies with the ceiling insulation standard.

If the property is a unit or townhouse, the ad must say if it is a part of an embedded network. This means a tenant must use certain service providers for their utilities. Utilities on an embedded network can include electricity, gas, hot water supply and broadband.

It is an offence to publish a rental ad that does not contain this information. Penalties may apply.

The rental property

Tenants should inspect the property before applying to rent it.

Tenants should:

  • check that appliances are working
  • check  that everything is as the rental advertisement states
  • ask the landlord if an internet, phone and TV antenna connection is available if needed.

Tenants should also consider how the home and garden is maintained. They will need to ensure they can maintain the house and garden to the same standard for the period of the tenancy agreement.

Minimum housing standard for ceiling insulation

There is a minimum housing standard for ceiling insulation. The standard applies to all rental properties, although some exemptions apply.

Landlords are responsible for making sure their property meets the minimum housing standard for ceiling insulation.

Read more about the minimum housing standard for ceiling insulation.

Rent bidding

Rent bidding is where a person offers to pay more rent than the advertised amount.

Landlords and real estate agents must not ask for or invite offers of rent higher than the advertised price.

Holding deposits or other upfront charges not allowed

Landlords cannot ask tenants to pay:

  • a fee to inspect the property or to be given information about the availability of the property
  • a holding deposit for the property
  • to be given the keys to the property
  • more than one bond for the property.

Having a pet while renting

Tenants can generally have a pet when renting.

A landlord can include a condition in the tenancy agreement that a tenant must ask permission before they get a pet. If a landlord wants to refuse a tenant’s request for a pet, they need approval from the ACT Civil & Administrative Tribunal.

If the rental property is in a unit plan (such as an apartment), you may also need approval from the owners corporation before you keep a pet. Tenants should ask their landlord or managing agent for permission. The landlord or agent can then arrange any owners corporation approval that is needed.

A landlord cannot:

  • include a term in the tenancy agreement that bans pets outright
  • make a tenant pay extra bond or insist on more inspections because they have a pet.

A landlord may impose reasonable conditions on a tenant’s request for a pet, such as how many pets a tenant can keep on the property.

A tenant is responsible for any damage the pet causes to the property. This includes damage that exceeds the bond.

Assistance animals

Landlords cannot refuse an application from a person with a disability because of their assistance animal.

A landlord can ask for evidence to confirm the need for the assistance animal. For example, a letter from a doctor.

Keeping a cat

Cat owners must follow the cat containment rules in the ACT.

Read about the ACT's cat containment laws.