diff --git a/changelog.d/18998.doc b/changelog.d/18998.doc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9ddc2d41c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/18998.doc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix documentation for `rc_room_creation` and `rc_reports` to clarify that a `per_user` rate limit is not supported.
diff --git a/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md b/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md
index 3c401d569b..7bcf82e7ab 100644
--- a/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md
+++ b/docs/usage/configuration/config_documentation.md
@@ -2006,9 +2006,8 @@ This setting has the following sub-options:
 Default configuration:
 ```yaml
 rc_reports:
-  per_user:
-    per_second: 1.0
-    burst_count: 5.0
+  per_second: 1.0
+  burst_count: 5.0
 ```
 
 Example configuration:
@@ -2031,9 +2030,8 @@ This setting has the following sub-options:
 Default configuration:
 ```yaml
 rc_room_creation:
-  per_user:
-    per_second: 0.016
-    burst_count: 10.0
+  per_second: 0.016
+  burst_count: 10.0
 ```
 
 Example configuration:
diff --git a/schema/synapse-config.schema.yaml b/schema/synapse-config.schema.yaml
index 2a7f94a700..b406af0409 100644
--- a/schema/synapse-config.schema.yaml
+++ b/schema/synapse-config.schema.yaml
@@ -2259,9 +2259,8 @@ properties:
       Setting this to a high value allows users to report content quickly, possibly in
       duplicate. This can result in higher database usage.
     default:
-      per_user:
-        per_second: 1.0
-        burst_count: 5.0
+      per_second: 1.0
+      burst_count: 5.0
     examples:
       - per_second: 2.0
         burst_count: 20.0
@@ -2270,9 +2269,8 @@ properties:
     description: >-
       Sets rate limits for how often users are able to create rooms.
     default:
-      per_user:
-        per_second: 0.016
-        burst_count: 10.0
+      per_second: 0.016
+      burst_count: 10.0
     examples:
       - per_second: 1.0
         burst_count: 5.0