The thing to remember about rent, is that it must be paid in full and on time. It the majority of cases, the rent is paid in advance and tenants cannot withhold the rent, even if there seems to be a good reason to do so.

The method of rent payment is usually included in the Residential Tenancy Agreement and can only be altered by mutual agreement between you and the landlord/agent.

The methods of payment can vary between cash, cheque, direct debit, EFTPOS, credit card, debit card and agent's special 'own brand' rent payment cards. Most agents will have a preferred method of payment, but you are not obliged to use it and can ask for an alternative. Remember that some methods will incur extra costs, such as cheque fees and credit card interest charges.

When paying the rent in person, you must be given a receipt then and there, or if requested by mail, it must arrive within five business days. The receipt must include:

• Tenant's name and address of the rented premise
• Date of the receipt
• Total amount paid
• Period the payment covers
• Explanation that the payment is for rent

The rent cannot be increased more than twice a year and there must be at least six months between each increase.

More information can be obtained from the information sheet Paying the rent and the booklet Renting a home: A guide for tenants and landlords.