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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

  1. 24: Rent increases
    Landlords are now allowed to vary a notice to increase rent with the tenant's agreement or the Tribunal's consent
  2. 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  • Provisions relating to COVID-19 have been repealed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

  1. 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    Provisions relating to COVID-19 have been repealed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  • Schedule 5 has been repealed due to the cessation of COVID-19 provisions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

  1. 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    Schedule 5 has been repealed due to the cessation of COVID-19 provisions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

  1. 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19
    Repeal of temporary provisions relating to COVID-19
  2. 131: Corporation may borrow
    Repeal of provisions relating to borrowing and amendment powers
  3. 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  • Provisions related to offices, tenancy officers, and delegation of powers were repealed
  • Provisions related to the management of the Fund were repealed
  • Schedule 5, which contains provisions relating to COVID-19, was repealed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

  1. 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19
    Schedule 5, which contains provisions relating to COVID-19, was repealed
  2. 35: Transitional provisions relating to fair rents and equitable rents
    Repeal status removed from certain provisions to reinstate their effect
  3. 75: Offices and Tenancy Officers
    Provisions related to offices, tenancy officers, and delegation of powers were repealed
  4. 122: Director-General may delegate powers
    Provisions related to offices, tenancy officers, and delegation of powers were repealed
  5. 129: Part B of the Fund
    Provisions related to the management of the Fund were repealed
  6. 130: Corporation may make money available
    Provisions related to the management of the Fund were repealed
  7. 131: Corporation may borrow
    Provisions related to the management of the Fund were repealed
  8. 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

  1. 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

  1. 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19
    Repeal of temporary provisions related to COVID-19
  2. 75: Offices and Tenancy Officers
    Repeal of provisions related to administrative roles and powers
  3. 122: Director-General may delegate powers
    Repeal of provisions related to administrative roles and powers
  4. 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

  1. 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
  2. 1B: Fines and fees for infringement offences
    Updated fines and fees for infringement offences and added empowering provision references
  3. 2: Enactments repealed
    Updated regulations and enactments to include empowering provisions and references
  4. 2: Interpretation
    Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
  5. 3: Regulations revoked
    Updated regulations and enactments to include empowering provisions and references
  6. 4: Enactments amended
    Updated regulations and enactments to include empowering provisions and references
  7. 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19
    Updated regulations and enactments to include empowering provisions and references
  8. 5: Act excluded in certain cases
    Updated provisions related to tenancy agreements, including contents and assignment of tenancies
  9. 13AB: Address for service
    Introduced electronic addresses as an option for service and updated rules for deemed service and proof of service
  10. 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
  11. 18: General bonds
    Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions
  12. 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
  13. 19: Duties of landlord on receipt of bond
    Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions
  14. 20: Duties of chief executive in relation to bonds
    Amended bond provisions to include general bonds, pet bonds, and updated refund and infringement provisions
  15. 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
  16. 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
  17. 22F: Landlord must state amount of rent when advertising residential premises
    Updated provisions related to tenancy agreements, including contents and assignment of tenancies
  18. 40: Tenant's responsibilities
    Updated tenant responsibilities to include prohibitions on damaging premises due to keeping pets
  19. 43A: Effect of provision prohibiting assignment by tenant
    Updated provisions related to tenancy agreements, including contents and assignment of tenancies
  20. 43B: Assignment of tenancy by tenant
    Updated provisions related to tenancy agreements, including contents and assignment of tenancies
  21. 49B: When tenant liable
    Updated tenant responsibilities to include prohibitions on damaging premises due to keeping pets
  22. 50: Circumstances in which tenancies are terminated
    Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
  23. 51: Termination by notice
    Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
  24. 53B: Special provisions for notice terminating social housing tenancies
    Repealed or amended provisions related to social housing tenancies and special notice provisions
  25. 54: Tribunal may declare notice retaliatory
    Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
  26. 55: Termination on non-payment of rent, damage, or assault
    Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
  27. 56B: Withdrawal from tenancy following family violence
    Introduced new grounds for tenants to withdraw from tenancies due to family violence
  28. 60A: Fixed-term tenancy becomes periodic unless contrary notice given
    Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
  29. 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
  30. 61: Abandonment of premises
    Changed notice periods for terminating tenancies and updated grounds for termination
  31. 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
  32. 66K: Obligations of tenant
    Updated tenant responsibilities to include prohibitions on damaging premises due to keeping pets
  33. 77: Jurisdiction of Tribunal
    Amended Tribunal's jurisdiction and powers, including ordering payment of bonds and claims exceeding $100,000
  34. 78: Orders of Tribunal
    Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
  35. 91A: Service on tenants following application
    Introduced electronic addresses as an option for service and updated rules for deemed service and proof of service
  36. 94: Minors and persons under disability
    Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
  37. 99: Tribunal may require inquiry and report by Tenancy Mediator or suitable person
    Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
  38. 108: Enforcement of work orders
    Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
  39. 109: Unlawful acts
    Amended Tribunal's jurisdiction and powers, including ordering payment of bonds and claims exceeding $100,000
  40. 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
  41. 127: Residential Tenancies Trust Account
    Made minor formatting, wording, and stylistic changes to various provisions
  42. 136: Service of documents
    Introduced electronic addresses as an option for service and updated rules for deemed service and proof of service