After years of advocacy, the NSW Government has passed the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024, bringing changes that strengthen renters’ rights across the state. These reforms mark a major step forward for tenants and will roll out in stages, with key provisions taking effect on 19 May 2025.
What has changed?
The new laws have:
- Ended ‘no grounds’ evictions.
- Made it easier to keep pets in rental homes.
- Limited rent increases to once every 12 months for most tenancy agreements.
- Has introduced fairer rental payment options.
What’s already in effect?
While not all changes have commenced, some important reforms are already in place:
- Rent increase cap: For most agreements, landlords can now only raise the rent once every 12 months.
- No background check fees: Renters can no longer be asked to pay for background checks during the application process.
- Rental Bond Board representation: The NSW Rental Commissioner is now a member of the Board.
- Water efficiency: All rental property toilets must be dual flush to meet water-saving standards.
What changed on 19 May 2025?
The following reforms came into effect on this date:
- Stronger protection against unfair evictions.
- Greater clarity and consistency around pet approvals.
- Fee-free rental payment options.
For further information visit the NSW Fair Trading website for clear, up-to-date guidance on the new rental laws and their rights and obligations.
ID 7925746 © Darren Fisher | Dreamstime.com