In a rare foray into the political debate, Mr Bright has voiced real estate agents' concerns the full potential effects of the proposals expected next week could have unintended economic and social effects, if implemented.

The biggest concern real estate agents had was the limits on rent rises, which Mr Bright said could exacerbate the rising trend of investors leaving the Canberra that was already occurring because of high rates, land tax and other charges unique to the ACT.

While the legislation has not been released, a statement from Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay said there would still be room for landlords to adjust to market conditions, but the default should be that rent rises would be in line with a set formula.

Mr Bright said any rent control mechanism would be disastrous, particularly given Canberra's current record-low vacancy rates, and that if all the changes proposed were enacted, on top of existing record rises to rates and land tax, and body corporate fees, more investors would leave the ACT, or decide against buying.

"We’re certainly sympathetic to making renting more practical and reasonable, but if that involves more increases to the cost to investor-owners, it won't work because lessors have to make a choice and it looks like it’s no longer going to be viable," he said.

"It’s always a balancing act, but ultimately it would affect people in lower socio-economic situations, because clearly there is the problem of a lack of public housing, so people on marginal incomes are in the private sector.

"Investors will be forced to pass on the extra costs in higher rents, and the continual rising costs will put [lower income rents] under more pressure if they can't move into the public or community housing sector."

Mr Bright also said the institute was concerned about allowing pets in all properties, given one-bedroom units and the like may not be suitable, and he believed that was best negotiated through body corporates.

He said the institute was open to allow tenants to make minor changes to properties without express landlord permission but the changes such as putting up picture frames or similar work was done by qualified trades, given potential safety risks.

Mr Bright also said the institute had told government that lease-break fees, which can be up to six weeks' rent, should remain unchanged, as provided certainty for both parties, despite the government concerned landlords were getting more money than the rent owed, particularly if a property was swiftly re-let.