A rental property must be advertised at a fixed price - failing to do so is an offence. The property manager/owner does not have to display the price on a ‘for rent’ sign at the property, but any other advertisement must include a fixed price. 

A property manager/owner must also not: 

• advertise a property with a rent range (e.g. between $420-$460 a week)
• put a property up for rent auction 
• proactively tell rental applicants to offer over the advertised rental price and encourage them to outbid each other or accept offers of higher amounts over the advertised rental price.  

This is an offence under the Act, with a maximum penalty of 40 penalty units.

From 6 June 2024, a property manager/owner cannot, at the start of a new tenancy, solicit, accept or invite a tenant to pay more rent in advance that exceeds two weeks for a periodic tenancy agreement, rooming accommodation agreement or movable dwelling tenancy agreement and one month for a fixed tenancy agreement, even if a prospective tenant makes an offer to pay more than the amount prescribed in the legislation. This is an offence under the Act, with a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units.

A person is not allowed to accept a rental bond from the tenant if the premises were advertised or offered without a fixed amount of rent. This is also an offence under the Act, with a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units.

Note: throughout the course of a tenancy, a tenant may negotiate how much rent in advance can be paid.

A customer who believes that rent bidding has taken place can contact the RTA for advice and request an investigation. 

More information about rent bidding and how to navigate a tight rental market can be found in our webinar Your questions answered: searching for a rental, rent and ending a tenancy.

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