But Mr Fischer also wanted to do something even more special.

The couple had talked about getting engaged before settling on their new home, but events had gotten in the way.

"She had joked that, 'We're not buying a house together until you put a ring on my finger'," he said. "We settled on the house on Friday and I thought it was a great opportunity to fulfil my obligations."

So last week, Mr Fischer wrote an online ad that featured a picture of their Sutton house and talked about a "30-year-old unit" that was a "real find". It had been "well looked after for the past two years, but is now in need of a long-term and committed title holder".

Mr Fischer also mentioned that he - sorry, the unit - had "plenty of potential for growth", was sure to pass a discerning inspection and was available "for lease indefinitely". And he posted a picture of himself holding out a diamond ring just in case there was any confusion.

On Friday, the couple picked up the keys to the house. On the way to Sutton, Mr Fischer told Ms Port about the ad, but she had misread it and assumed someone was fraudulently offering their house for rent.

"It just did not compute, I think because I was just overwhelmed by the fact that we just got the keys to the house," she said. "So Rowly asked me three times, 'Did you read the ad?' And I was like, 'Yes!' But I just did not get it."

Realising that he had his work cut out for him ("I wish I had thought of a backup plan"), Mr Fischer dropped to one knee outside the house and popped the question. And Ms Port said yes.

On Monday, the newly engaged couple were in the middle of moving into their new three-bedroom home, the diamond ring bright on Ms Port's finger in the autumn sun.

Word had got out among their friends - and others who had seen the ad online (it has since been removed) - and Mr Fischer joked that he had "upped the game" among his male friends. One woman who saw the ad emailed to ask if Ms Port had said yes.

Mr Fischer runs the Diplomat Hotel in Kingston and Ms Port works part-time in the public service. The couple also run The Muesli Bar, a small business making muesli and trail mix to order.

They met two years ago when on a camping trip in Braidwood with mutual friends. Mr Fischer recalls thinking, "What a lovely girl", but was unable to make a move because he was heading to Western Australia to work for six months and she lived in Sydney.

But they kept in touch and when he returned to Canberra he gave her a call and it went from there. After dating long distance for months, Ms Port moved to Canberra.

No wedding date has been set yet but it looks like the house - and the enterprising Mr Fischer - are both definitely off the market.