There are extensive changes to comply with, as set out in the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 and the Residential Tenancies Amendment Regulation 2025, and these changes include:
Landlords can no longer terminate for any reason during a periodic agreement or simply because it is the end of a fixed term agreement.
Landlords must provide a prescribed reason for terminating a lease and, in some circumstances, that reason must be accompanied by supporting evidence.
Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a request from a tenant to keep up to four pets in the rental property.
Tenants must be offered a free, electronic way to pay their rent.
*Source – Real Estate Institute of NSW
Water – Who Pays? Tennant Or Landlord?
The NSW Government has recently introduced legislation where landlords must ensure rental properties have dual flush toilets with a minimum 3-star Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) rating if they wish to pass on water usage charges to their tenant.
This means that if a landlord wants to pass on water costs to tenants, they must ensure the property meets this water efficiency standard.
Key points:
Dual-flush toilets are mandatory:
All toilets in rental properties must be dual-flush models with a minimum 3-star WELS rating.
Landlords must meet the standard to charge tenants:
If the property doesn’t meet these water efficiency standards, landlords cannot charge tenants for water usage.
This requirement applies to both new and existing tenancies:
It’s not just for new leases starting after the date, but for all rentals.
Tenants are only responsible for water usage if the property is water-efficient:
Tenants are only responsible for water usage if the property meets the required standards and they have been informed of this.
Water efficiency measures should be stated on the entry condition report:
Landlords should provide evidence of the water-efficient fixtures, such as receipts or a water efficiency certificate, when a tenant moves in.
Tenants have a right to query water bills:
If a tenant is being charged for water usage, they can ask for proof that the property meets the required standards.
For full details on changes to the law, click here
If you are unsure of your rental situation and what you are, and aren’t, entitled to, speak with your property manager: they are there to help you.