Residential Tenancies Act 1986
Summary of changes
These summaries explain recent changes to the law. They are generated by AI comparing versions of the legislation, so they might oversimplify, miss details, or get things wrong. Learn more about how we track these changes.
19 September 2024
- The healthy homes standards have been updated to include new requirements and exceptions
- Landlords are now allowed to vary a notice to increase rent with the tenant's agreement or the Tribunal's consent
Affected provisions
- 24: Rent increases Landlords are now allowed to vary a notice to increase rent with the tenant's agreement or the Tribunal's consent
- 138B: Healthy homes standards The healthy homes standards have been updated to include new requirements and exceptions
23 September 2024
- Provisions relating to COVID-19 have been repealed
Affected provisions
- 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19 Provisions relating to COVID-19 have been repealed
13 December 2024
- Schedule 5 has been repealed due to the cessation of COVID-19 provisions
Affected provisions
- 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19 Schedule 5 has been repealed due to the cessation of COVID-19 provisions
24 May 2025
- Repeal of provisions relating to borrowing and amendment powers
- Repeal of temporary provisions relating to COVID-19
Affected provisions
- 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19 Repeal of temporary provisions relating to COVID-19
- 131: Corporation may borrow Repeal of provisions relating to borrowing and amendment powers
- 141: Schedule 1 may be amended by Order in Council Repeal of provisions relating to borrowing and amendment powers
6 August 2025
- Repeal status removed from certain provisions to reinstate their effect
- Provisions related to offices, tenancy officers, and delegation of powers were repealed
- Provisions related to the management of the Fund were repealed
- Schedule 5, which contains provisions relating to COVID-19, was repealed
Affected provisions
- 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19 Schedule 5, which contains provisions relating to COVID-19, was repealed
- 35: Transitional provisions relating to fair rents and equitable rents Repeal status removed from certain provisions to reinstate their effect
- 75: Offices and Tenancy Officers Provisions related to offices, tenancy officers, and delegation of powers were repealed
- 122: Director-General may delegate powers Provisions related to offices, tenancy officers, and delegation of powers were repealed
- 129: Part B of the Fund Provisions related to the management of the Fund were repealed
- 130: Corporation may make money available Provisions related to the management of the Fund were repealed
- 131: Corporation may borrow Provisions related to the management of the Fund were repealed
- 141: Schedule 1 may be amended by Order in Council Repeal status removed from certain provisions to reinstate their effect
7 August 2025
- Transitional provisions for amendments made by the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 have been inserted into Schedule 1AA
Affected provisions
- 1AA: Transitional, savings, and related provisions Transitional provisions for amendments made by the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 have been inserted into Schedule 1AA
9 September 2025
- Repeal of provisions related to administrative roles and powers
- Repeal of provisions related to amendment and scheduling powers
- Repeal of temporary provisions related to COVID-19
Affected provisions
- 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19 Repeal of temporary provisions related to COVID-19
- 75: Offices and Tenancy Officers Repeal of provisions related to administrative roles and powers
- 122: Director-General may delegate powers Repeal of provisions related to administrative roles and powers
- 141: Schedule 1 may be amended by Order in Council Repeal of provisions related to amendment and scheduling powers
24 December 2025
- Updated regulations and enactments to include empowering provisions and references
- Introduced electronic addresses as an option for service and updated rules for deemed service and proof of service
- Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions
- Updated tenant responsibilities to include prohibitions on damaging premises due to keeping pets
- Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
- Amended Tribunal's jurisdiction and powers, including ordering payment of bonds and claims exceeding $100,000
- Updated provisions related to tenancy agreements, including contents and assignment of tenancies
- Repealed or amended provisions related to social housing tenancies and special notice provisions
- Introduced new grounds for tenants to withdraw from tenancies due to family violence
- Updated fines and fees for infringement offences and added empowering provision references
- Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
Affected provisions
- 1A: Amounts for unlawful acts Updated regulations and enactments to include empowering provisions and references; Updated fines and fees for infringement offences and added empowering provision references
- 1B: Fines and fees for infringement offences Updated fines and fees for infringement offences and added empowering provision references
- 2: Enactments repealed Updated regulations and enactments to include empowering provisions and references
- 2: Interpretation Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
- 3: Regulations revoked Updated regulations and enactments to include empowering provisions and references
- 4: Enactments amended Updated regulations and enactments to include empowering provisions and references
- 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19 Updated regulations and enactments to include empowering provisions and references
- 5: Act excluded in certain cases Updated provisions related to tenancy agreements, including contents and assignment of tenancies
- 13AB: Address for service Introduced electronic addresses as an option for service and updated rules for deemed service and proof of service
- 13A: Contents of tenancy agreement Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions; Updated provisions related to tenancy agreements, including contents and assignment of tenancies
- 18: General bonds Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions
- 18A: Landlord must not require security other than permitted bond Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions
- 19: Duties of landlord on receipt of bond Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions
- 20: Duties of chief executive in relation to bonds Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions
- 21: Tenant may pay bond direct to chief executive with landlord's consent Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions
- 22A: Applications to chief executive for payment of bond without agreement of other party Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions
- 22F: Landlord must state amount of rent when advertising residential premises Updated provisions related to tenancy agreements, including contents and assignment of tenancies
- 40: Tenant's responsibilities Updated tenant responsibilities to include prohibitions on damaging premises due to keeping pets
- 43A: Effect of provision prohibiting assignment by tenant Updated provisions related to tenancy agreements, including contents and assignment of tenancies
- 43B: Assignment of tenancy by tenant Updated provisions related to tenancy agreements, including contents and assignment of tenancies
- 49B: When tenant liable Updated tenant responsibilities to include prohibitions on damaging premises due to keeping pets
- 50: Circumstances in which tenancies are terminated Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
- 51: Termination by notice Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
- 53B: Special provisions for notice terminating social housing tenancies Repealed or amended provisions related to social housing tenancies and special notice provisions
- 54: Tribunal may declare notice retaliatory Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
- 55: Termination on non-payment of rent, damage, or assault Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
- 56B: Withdrawal from tenancy following family violence Introduced new grounds for tenants to withdraw from tenancies due to family violence
- 60A: Fixed-term tenancy becomes periodic unless contrary notice given Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
- 60B: Tenant must exercise right to renew or extend tenancy not later than 21 days before expiry Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
- 61: Abandonment of premises Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
- 62B: Disposal of abandoned goods in accordance with Tribunal order Introduced electronic addresses as an option for service and updated rules for deemed service and proof of service; Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
- 66K: Obligations of tenant Updated tenant responsibilities to include prohibitions on damaging premises due to keeping pets
- 77: Jurisdiction of Tribunal Amended Tribunal's jurisdiction and powers, including ordering payment of bonds and claims exceeding $100,000
- 78: Orders of Tribunal Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
- 91A: Service on tenants following application Introduced electronic addresses as an option for service and updated rules for deemed service and proof of service
- 94: Minors and persons under disability Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
- 99: Tribunal may require inquiry and report by Tenancy Mediator or suitable person Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
- 108: Enforcement of work orders Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
- 109: Unlawful acts Amended Tribunal's jurisdiction and powers, including ordering payment of bonds and claims exceeding $100,000
- 109B: Tribunal may make pecuniary penalty orders Amended Tribunal's jurisdiction and powers, including ordering payment of bonds and claims exceeding $100,000; Repealed or amended provisions related to social housing tenancies and special notice provisions
- 127: Residential Tenancies Trust Account Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
- 136: Service of documents Introduced electronic addresses as an option for service and updated rules for deemed service and proof of service