Most Australians agree there should be a cap on rent increases - but there's a catch

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Most Australians agree rental laws should impose a cap on rent increases for tenants.

According to a nine.com.au reader poll, the majority of Aussies would be happy to see a limit on how much a landlord can raise the rent in every state.

The survey found 67 per cent of 539 users* want to see a change in the country's rental laws to reflect this.

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Just 22 per cent of people said they didn't want a limit on how much a landlord can legally increase rent, while 11 per cent said they were unsure.

According to the Rental Pain Index, the average rental increase in Australia by July 2024 was 10.29 per cent.

The national average rent affordability also sank, with the proportion of income spent on rent rising from 29.96 per cent to 30.81 per cent.

Though rental caps appear to be welcomed by nine.com.au readers, one respondent said it would only be fair if some landlord expenses were capped too.

"Happy to have rental increases capped as long as all the other charges, such as rates, insurances, land tax and interest rates are capped as well," one noted.

Another reader said rental caps would stop landlords from forcing tenants to bear the costs of mortgage rates.

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"Why should renters suffer from the landlords not being able to afford their own investment?" they asked.

One reader, a landlord, argued that rent increases were necessary for owners to continue to afford their mortgage.

"You have to put up the rent," they said.

"Because of interest rates, rates, and repayments… I am a middle income and trying to set myself up for retirement."

The ACT is the only Australian state or territory which caps rental increases.

Rent increases in Canberra are limited to 110 per cent, a change to tenancy laws which was introduced in 2019.

*The nine.com.au poll, which runs once a fortnight, canvases the views of the nine audience on 9Nation, which is an online community of our readers and viewers.