Landlords can no longer evict tenants without a valid reason. Photo: AAP Image/Diego Fedele
NSW is slowly rolling out new rental laws in the hope of alleviating some of the pressure on the rental market.
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The changes began in October last year after the NSW Government passed the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2024.
One of the key reforms included the ban on no-grounds evictions.
This means landlords can no longer evict tenants without a valid reason and must provide evidence to support the termination notice.
If landlords can’t provide a genuine reason, penalties will be payable by landlords.
Ray White Echuca director Lynn Hall.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
According to Ray White Echuca director Lynn Hall, the end to no-grounds evictions is a positive development for NSW renters.
“It’s tough to get rentals everywhere in Australia at the moment and Moama is no different,” she said.
“Removing the 120-day notice for no reason is a good thing, there are only specific reasons that a landlord can give notice such as rental arrears, if a family member is moving in or if the property is being sold with vacant possession.
“Those sorts of things will certainly make it better for a renter.”
When the bill passed in October, immediate changes included banning extra fees at the start of a tenancy for things such as background checks and preparing tenancy agreements.
Additionally, a 12-month limit on rent increases for all leases was also enacted.
Changes planned for the first half of 2025 include new laws concerning tenants and their pets.
Tenants must fill out an application to keep their pet on the premises, which will be subject to approval by the landlord in under 21 days.
The landlord will only be able to refuse a pet for genuine reasons, such as the property being unsuitable for pets or the landlord also living at the property.
In coming months, renters can also expect extended notice periods before their lease ends and greater flexibility in how they pay rent.
NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones talks about the rental reforms.
Photo by
AAP
NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones said the reforms to rental laws would provide renters with much-needed support.
“The current rental market in NSW is the toughest that renters have seen for decades, with historically low vacancy rates, and median rent prices for houses increasing by around seven per cent over the last 12 months,” she said.
“These reforms will provide tenants with practical and meaningful support, which will help ease the insecurity and vulnerability of renting in challenging city and regional rental markets.”
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