You asked, we answered: the common real estate queries of 2023

If you have a real estate query, we’re here to help. This year REIWA’s free Information Service received over 8,200 calls from members of the public, with the majority relating to property management.

Below are the answers to the most common questions.

You can find more market information and guidance on www.reiwa.com. And you are always welcome to call the Information Services team on 9380 8200 (business hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm). Note: we are closed from noon 22 December 2023, reopening on 2 January 2024.

What happens if I need to break my lease?

At some point you may need to move out of your rental property earlier than planned, this is the right way to do it.

What are the changes to the Residential Tenancies Act?

Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act were announced in May 2023. You can read a summary of the reforms here.

What is the latest news on the Residential Tenancies Act?

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament on 29 November. It has not been passed yet and the changes are not expected to be implemented until mid-2024. You can read the Facts of the Act here.

My lease is up, how do I find a new property?

The top tip from our property managers is to make sure your application is filled out correctly. There are many other ways you can stand out from the crowd and you can read these tips here.

How often can the property owner increase the rent?

There are a range of rules in place about when and how often a property owner can increase the rent.

What can I do to avoid being scammed?

The tight rental market is leaving desperate tenants at the mercy of scammers. REIWA shares a range of tips to help tenants protect themselves in this article as well as what to do when you spot a scam.