Changes To Tenancy Rules
June 8th, 2009
The Govt has introduced a Bill changing tenancy laws which it says balances landlord and tenant rights.
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill will update and clarify existing rental laws. The Govt says it adjusts the balance of the Residential Tenancies Act, enabling landlords to manage their properties effectively and ensuring tenants have access to stable, good quality accommodation. It will also address risks to landlords providing rental accommodation.
Key changes include:
* Extension of the Act (including protecting access to advice, information and dispute resolution services) to more people involved in renting, such as tenants in boarding houses.
* Clarifying responsibility for outgoings by introducing overarching principles to indicate when landlords or tenants are responsible for charges such as water or rates.
* Introducing better processes for terminating and renewing tenancies.
* Increasing fines and exemplary damages and introducing new sanctions to improve compliance.
* Providing for faster tenancy dispute resolution.
* Improving the enforceability of tribunal orders.
* Clarifying the status of a tenancy when a sole tenant dies.
* Requiring the Tenancy Tribunal to terminate a tenancy where a tenant has permitted someone else to assault, or threaten to assault, specified persons (including the tenant’s landlord).
* Requiring landlords to disclose whether the premises have had to be cleansed under a statutory order (e.g. because the premises have been contaminated due to methamphetamine manufacture).
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