Changes coming for landlords and tenants with new laws 2019

Are you a landlord or tenant here in NSW? If so, you need to be aware that significant changes are coming to the current Residential Tenancies Act 2010 that are predicted to take effect in early 2019.  In the biggest shake up for some two decades, Better Regulation Matt Kean has labelled them as “sweeping reforms for tenants’ rights” and they come after two years of lobbying and consultation with tenants and industry bodies, after a review of the Act in 2016 made a raft of recommendations to strike a better balance between the interests of tenants and landlords.

In summary, the major changes will include the following:

• Changes to rent increases and limits to annual increases on periodic leases only
• New set fee amounts forbreaking a fixed-term lease and no penalties for domestic violence victims who break a lease
• Access for landlords selling rental property for the purposes of marketing/photos/video
• Consent required for marketing photos from tenants
• Changes to separate utility meter definitions
• Changes to condition report processes
• Further disclosure requirements by landlords including strata issues
• Smoke alarm repairs to be classified as urgent repairs
• Increased tenant rights to alter property without landlord’s consent