Owning a rental property is supposed to be an investment that works for you, not a constant source of stress. But if you’ve been a landlord for any length of time, you know that the rules and regulations surrounding rentals can change in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, what was once standard practice is now outdated, and failing to comply with new laws could land you in trouble.
One of the biggest concerns landlords face is staying updated with NSW rental laws. New government policies, tenant rights adjustments, and landlord regulations can shift without much warning, and if you don’t keep up, you risk financial loss or legal complications.
Because of this, landlords all over Australia are turning to competent property management agencies to take charge of their properties, and Ray White Green Valley is a top choice.
Our property management team in Edmondson Park is always up to date with the latest legal changes to NSW rental laws, and we’re quite capable and ready to manage your property and keep you informed every step of the way.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the latest changes in NSW rental laws in Australia:
Starting on 31 October 2024, new rules make it clear that renters cannot be charged extra fees at the start of a tenancy. This means no extra charges for background checks, application processing, or preparing tenancy agreements. The only charges allowed can be found on the costs at the start of a residential tenancy page.
As of 31 October 2024, rent can only be increased once every 12 months. No exceptions, no sneaky clauses in lease agreements, nothing. It doesn’t matter if it’s a fixed-term lease or a periodic lease, this rule applies across the board.
This builds on changes that kicked in on 1 July 2023, which set the annual limit. But now, there’s an extra step: from 6 June 2024, landlords must explicitly state the date of the last rent increase in the tenancy agreement.
If a tenant asks for proof of when their rent was last raised, you have 14 days to provide it. So if you’ve been relying on verbal agreements or informal records, now’s the time to tighten up your paperwork.
For years, landlords in Australia could end a lease without much explanation. Now, whether it’s a fixed-term or periodic lease, you must have a valid reason for asking a tenant to leave the rental property. Here are some reasons the law considers valid:
There’s a more comprehensive list of legal reasons on the Ending a Tenancy Agreement for Managing Parties Fact Sheet; feel free to review it extensively to know your liberties as a landlord.
From the first half of 2025, renters in fixed-term leases will get more notice before their lease ends. Previously, they only had 30 days to prepare, but now the rules are changing:
If a tenant is on a periodic lease, notice periods stay the same.
This is the government’s attempt at giving tenants more time to find a new home, considering how competitive the rental market in Australia gets each day.
In NSW, landlords used to be able to refuse pets for any reason. Not anymore. Under the new rental laws in NSW, tenants can request to have a pet, and landlords can only say no for specific legal reasons. These include:
If a landlord refuses a pet request, they must provide a reason within 21 days, or the request is automatically approved. If a tenant disagrees with the decision, they can challenge it in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
Over in Western Australia, landlords can still set conditions, like requiring carpets to be professionally cleaned after a pet leaves. They can also charge a pet bond to cover potential damages to their property.
One of the biggest changes is that landlords must provide a way for tenants to pay rent without incurring extra fees. That means if your preferred method includes service charges, you must also offer a fee-free alternative, such as direct bank transfer or Centrepay which is the official payment system of the government in Australia.
Here are some of the ways you can stay updated and compliant as a landlord in Australia:
The government is constantly tweaking rental laws, and they don’t exactly send you a personal text to let you know. But what you can do is sign up for official updates.
One of the best ways to do this is by subscribing to the NSW Fair Trading Property Matters newsletter. It’s free, and it gives you a heads-up on any new laws before they take effect. That way, you can prepare in advance instead of scrambling to fix things later.
Another handy place to check is NSW.gov.au or follow the official social media pages of the NSW government, where you’ll find:
If you don’t have time to keep researching legal updates yourself, let a landlord association do it for you. These groups stay on top of everything and will send you alerts as tenancy laws keep changing in NSW.
Some great landlord associations in Australia include:
Even if you read every update and attend every seminar, it’s still easy to forget things, but you’re less likely to forget when you have compliance tools.
You can use a simple checklist to help you go through each requirement step by step. Before renting out a property, you can make sure you’ve ticked off everything from safety regulations to bond lodgement.
Also, there are apps and online services designed specifically to track regulation changes for landlords. Some property management platforms even send alerts when new laws come in.
Tenants hear about rental law changes too. If something new pops up, they might have questions, or they might assume you’re supposed to do something that you didn’t even know about.
The best way to avoid conflict as tenancy laws are changing in NSW is to keep an open line of communication. Let your tenants know you’re staying updated, and encourage them to reach out if they hear about a new rule that affects them.
You could simply send a quick email every few months with any important legal changes. Let them know where to report maintenance issues so you can fix things before they become a problem.
When tenants feel heard, they’re less likely to file complaints or take legal action. And at the end of the day, that keeps things easier for you.
As a landlord in Australia, you would benefit a good deal from the following tools and resources.
There are plenty of places where you can get solid, up-to-date information about the changes to rental laws in New South Wales, Green Valley, and Sydney. Here are a few of them:
If keeping up with all the legal requirements feels like too much, hiring a property manager might be your best bet. A good property management company will handle everything for you, from screening tenants to ensuring your lease agreements are legally sound. They also stay updated on changes in rental laws and landlord regulations in NSW, so you don’t have to.
Property managers can take care of tenant screening, lease agreements, rent increases, inspections, maintenance issues and even disputes. Many also provide legal advice and ensure your rental is always in compliance with new laws.
Sometimes, the best way to stay informed is by talking to other landlords who’ve been through it all. Connecting with a community of landlords can help you learn from others’ experiences, avoid common mistakes, and get practical advice on handling rental law changes from those who’ve been in the business before you.
Websites like PropertyChat and Facebook groups for landlords in Australia are full of discussions on rent laws, eviction procedures, and landlord rights. You can ask questions, get advice, and learn from other landlords’ experiences.
Many real estate agencies, legal firms, and landlord associations hold workshops where they break down the latest legal updates in plain English. These are great for getting expert advice and staying ahead of changes in the law.
These new rental laws in Australia mean landlords will need to rethink how they manage their properties. With rent increases now strictly limited, more protections for tenants, and fewer reasons to evict without cause, the rental market is shifting towards greater security and fairness for renters.
For landlords, this means more paperwork and stricter rules, but you won’t have to be on top of all of this if you let the property management experts at Ray White Green Valley manage your property on your behalf.
As a trusted name in real estate and property management, we make it our job to stay on top of every rental change, big or small. Our team is deeply rooted in the industry, keeping our ears to the ground for any shifts in laws, rental trends, and market conditions that could impact your property. We can help you with several real estate and property management services across NSW, like:
Whether you own one property or multiple, you can rest easy knowing that your investment is in expert hands. So, if you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed by rental changes and the never-ending responsibilities of being a landlord, let us handle the hard work for you. Fill out the appraisal form on our website today!
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