Happy New Year!
I hope 2025 is off to a good start. I am pleased to share good news outlining the following summary of amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act, which will be taking effect throughout the year.
We believe these changes have been well considered and fairly assessed for both landlords and tenants.
* **Reintroduction of 90-Day ‘No Cause’ Terminations:**
Landlords will be able to end a periodic tenancy with a 90-day notice without needing to specify a reason.
* **Shorter Notice Periods for Landlords:**
Under specific circumstances, landlords will be able to end a periodic tenancy with a reduced notice period of 42 days.
* **Shorter Notice Periods for Tenants:**
Tenants terminating a periodic tenancy will be required to provide only 21 days’ notice instead of the previous 28 days.
* **Reintroduction of Landlord Ability to Give Notice to End a Fixed-Term Tenancy at the End of the fixed Term Without Requiring a Specific Reason:**
Landlords will be able to give notice to end a fixed-term tenancy at the end of its term without needing a specific reason as long as the notice is served between 90 and 21 days (known as the “effective period”)
* **Introduction of Pet Bonds and Rules for Pet Ownership:**
The amendments also include provisions for landlords to require a pet bond. This change is paired with new rules surrounding pet consent and tenant liability for any pet-related damage, aiming to protect landlords while promoting pet-friendly rentals.
* **Tenancy Tribunals:**
Tenancy Tribunal adjudicators can decide certain cases based on submitted documents without holding a hearing. This will exclude matters involving the termination of a tenancy.
**Important Note:**
Landlords need to navigate these new rules carefully to avoid penalties, especially regarding retaliatory actions. The Tribunal’s expanded powers make it crucial for landlords to handle notices responsibly.
**Commencement Dates for Main Law Changes:**
* 17 December 2024: Provisions enabling online bond lodgement took effect.
* 30 January 2025: Changes to tenancy terminations take effect.
* 20 March 2025: Technical changes to the RTA take effect.