Property Manager threatening to blacklist !

Hi everyone,

I’m in a stressful and scary situation with the real estate agent managing the property I rent, and I would really appreciate some advice. Recently, my co-tenant and I were informed of a rent increase from $600 to $700 per week—an extra $100. The property manager claims to have sent the notice on September 12, 2024, but we only received a forwarded email about it on January 13, 2025.

(Sydney based ) ,Here are my main concerns: 1. Validity of Notice: The email referencing the rent increase was forwarded to us in January 13 , 2025. When I checked the forwarded email, I noticed that the date and time of the original message could be altered when resent. This raises serious doubts about the validity of the notice. We also thoroughly checked our inboxes from September 2024 and found no record of the original email. 2. Lack of Proper Notice: We never received a formal 60-day notice of the rent increase, as required by law. If we had received proper notice, we would have responded or acknowledged it much earlier. 3. Acknowledgment of Payments: The property manager is claiming that the rent increase was effective from November 12, 2024 and is now demanding $950 😭 in arrears. However, REA had previously acknowledged our rent payments made recently at the original rate of $600 per week because the property manager sent us reciepts for rent payment like usual. 4. Threats of Tribunal and Blacklisting: The real estate agent is now calling me repeatedly, demanding that I pay all the arrears immediately. They’ve even threatened to blacklist me if I don’t comply. This is incredibly alarming, and I’m feeling scared and unsure of what to do next. 5. Legal Position: We’ve informed the property manager that we are willing to start paying the increased rent from the date we became aware of it, January 19, 2025. However, they are insisting on backdated arrears and have threatened to escalate the matter to the tribunal.

Questions for the community: • Does the forwarded nature of the email and the possibility of altering its date and time affect the validity of the rent increase notice? • Can the real estate agent blacklist me over this dispute, and what steps can I take to protect myself? • How should I prepare for the tribunal if the agent follows through with their threat? • Are there any ways to resolve this matter without further escalation?

We’ve always been reliable tenants and want to continue living here, but this situation is causing us significant stress and financial anxiety. I’d be super grateful for any advice, legal insights, or similar experiences.