Centrepay Revolution: Fee-Free Rent Payments Now Your Legal Right

From 19 May 2025, the landlord/agent must allow a fee-free and accessible option for paying your rent. This must include bank transfer and the Australian government's Centrepay, ending the era of payment platform fees.

Mandatory Fee-Free Options

This must include bank transfer and the Australian government's Centrepay (see below), ensuring that you have choices for paying your rent without incurring additional fees.

Required options:

• Direct bank transfer
• Centrepay (for eligible tenants)
• At least one no-cost method
• Cannot force platform use
• No processing fees allowed

Centrepay Benefits

For government payment recipients:

• Automatic deductions
• Never miss payments
• No bank fees
• Budget certainty
• Protected from scams

Ending Platform Exploitation

Landlords, agents and third party companies are no longer allowed to charge prospective renters for background checks when applying for a rental property. This extends to payment platforms that:

• Charge transaction fees
• Require premium memberships
• Add processing costs
• Force app downloads
• Collect excessive data

Implementation Timeline

From a date to be confirmed, Centrepay will be added as a requirement that all landlords and agents must offer as an option. Current status:

• Bank transfers: Mandatory now
• Centrepay: Rolling implementation
• Full compliance: Expected late 2025

Your Payment Rights

Tenants can:

• Choose payment method
• Switch methods anytime
• Refuse fee-based options
• Report non-compliance
• Maintain payment records

Common Violations

Watch for:

• "Preferred" platform pressure
• Hidden convenience fees
• Mandatory app requirements
• Cash payment refusal
• Limited payment windows

Protecting Vulnerable Tenants

Centrepay particularly helps:

• Pension recipients
• Disability support pensioners
• Single parents
• JobSeeker recipients
• Youth allowance recipients

Enforcement and Penalties

Agents face fines for:

• Refusing fee-free options
• Charging payment fees
• Limiting payment methods
• Discriminating against Centrepay
• False fee disclosures

References

• Tenancy law has changed in NSW | Tenants' Union
• Services Australia - Centrepay
• NSW Fair Trading payment method requirements