New rental laws in NSW have started

Following extensive public consultation, the NSW Government has introduced new renting laws to help deliver a fairer, more stable rental market.

Changes that started on 19 May 2025 include:

·        requiring landlords to provide a reason to end a lease – ending ‘no grounds’ terminations for tenants

·        ensuring tenants can pay rent using bank transfer with no additional fees

·        tenants may request to keep a pet using a standard application form, and landlords can only refuse for specific reasons.

Other changes started in 2024, including limiting rent increases to once per year for all lease types and preventing extra fees at the start of a tenancy, including fees for background checks and preparing a tenancy agreement.

More information on these changes is available on the NSW Fair Trading website, including new and updated forms and guidance.