Under the Act, rent can be paid via:

• cash
• cheque
• deposit to a financial institution account (nominated by property manager/owner)
• via EFTPOS
• credit card
• payroll deductions (or pension deduction)
• any other method agreed on by the property manager/owner and the tenant (e.g. rent card).

If the property manager/owner wants the tenant to pay by another method (e.g. rent card) they must inform the tenant of any costs associated with that method (e.g. joining and processing fees) and offer at least two other approved ways to pay the rent.

When rent is paid electronically, it is the tenant/resident's responsibility to arrange for the money to leave their account on a certain day. The rent is considered paid on the day it leaves the tenants/resident's account, and they must not do anything to stop or delay the payment to a later day.

Rent cards are increasing in popularity, however a tenant does not have to agree to pay rent this way.

Rent cards allow rent payments to be processed by a third party (e.g. REConnect oneCard, DEFT Card, LJ Hooker Priority Card).

The tenant is usually charged a monthly service fee and may be liable for a range of other fees and charges (e.g. dishonour fee).

If the property manager/owner would like the tenant to use a rent card they must also offer the tenant two other approved ways to pay the rent (e.g. by cheque, EFTPOS or direct debit).

The RTA does not get involved in disputes between the rent card company and a tenant.

The property manager/owner must ensure the tenant is fully aware of all charges, fees and rules associated with rent cards. The tenant should make sure they understand this detail before signing the tenancy agreement or rent card contract.

The RTA does not provide conciliation for any dispute between a rent card provider and a tenant.

A property manager/owner can ask a tenant to pay rent in advance.

The maximum rent in advance that can be asked depends on the type of tenancy agreement:

Property managers/owners cannot ask tenants to pay more rent in advance than allowed – this is an offence. However, there is no limit to how much a tenant can offer to pay.

Example: The tenancy agreement states the tenant must pay $400 rent a fortnight. Before the tenant moves in, they pay $400 'rent in advance'. The tenant moves into the property and lives there for two weeks. At the end of that two weeks their next $400 rent payment is due as the 'rent in advance' has been used up.

If the tenant pays rent in cash, or requests a receipt when paying by cheque, the property manager/owner must provide a receipt; it is an offence not to do so.

The property manager/owner must keep an accurate record (ledger) of rent paid by the tenant and retain it for 1 year after the tenancy has ended. The tenant can ask for a copy of the rent record at any time and it must be provided within 7 days.