Free tenancy advice in the ACT: who to contact

Private renters: Legal Aid ACT’s Tenancy Advice Service

The Tenancy Advice Service is the ACT’s free, confidential legal service for people renting privately. Legal Aid ACT has run it since 1 April 2020, when it took over the government-funded service from the Tenants’ Union ACT.

It can help with bond disputes, ending a tenancy, eviction, falling behind on rent, repairs, maintenance and mould, unfair rent increases, family violence within a tenancy, share house and sub-letting problems, and occupancy agreements such as student accommodation. It gives legal information and advice about your situation, and can represent you at ACAT where appropriate.

It doesn’t cover landlords, public housing, or strata and body corporate problems.

Contact (from Legal Aid ACT’s website, October 2026):

• Phone: 1300 402 512
• Hours: Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 7pm; Friday 8.30am to 5pm
• Email: tas@legalaidact.org.au
• Online chat: from the Tenancy Advice Service page

You can ask for an interpreter at the start of the call, and Legal Aid ACT will arrange one through TIS National at no cost.

Public and community housing tenants: Canberra Community Law

If you rent from Housing ACT or a community housing provider, Canberra Community Law’s Housing Law service gives free legal advice. It covers getting into public housing, eviction, rent arrears, transfers, housing debts, and repairs and maintenance. It can also help people in caravan parks, hostels and boarding houses, or living under an occupancy agreement.

• Phone: (02) 6218 7900
• Address: Level 5, 10 Rudd Street, Canberra City

Help at the tribunal (ACAT)

ACAT lists free duty lawyer services at the tribunal:

• Wednesdays: the Tenancy Advice Service, for tenants and occupants of private rentals
• Thursdays: Canberra Community Law, for Housing ACT and community housing tenants

ACAT staff can explain the tribunal’s processes but can’t give legal advice about your case. Phone ACAT on (02) 6207 1740, weekdays 9am to 4.30pm. More in how ACAT tenancy applications work.

Interpreters

TIS National provides free phone interpreting 24 hours a day on 131 450. You can call TIS first and ask them to connect you to the service you need. ACAT can also arrange an interpreter for a conference or hearing at no cost if you ask at least 5 days beforehand.

If you’re struggling to pay rent or at risk of losing your home

• Housing Crisis Support Fund: opened 30 September 2026, run by Care Inc. It can pay a one-off rental grant of up to 4 weeks’ rent, capped at $2,500, directly to your landlord, and there’s a separate $250 crisis support payment. Eligibility rules apply; see Care’s fund page.
• Financial counselling: Care Financial Counselling Service, through the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.
• Homelessness or at risk of homelessness: FIRST Canberra (Salvation Army) runs the ACT’s central intake service on 1800 176 468.

Complaints about a real estate agent

Real estate agents in the ACT are licensed. If you think an agent has acted unprofessionally, you can complain to Access Canberra (13 22 81). Access Canberra says you must first contact the business in writing to try to resolve it, and it can’t order compensation; only a court or tribunal can do that.

What this website can and can’t do

This site explains how renting law works in the ACT, in general terms. It can’t advise you about your lease, your notice or your deadline. If something has a date on it, contact one of the services above as soon as you can.