The NSW Government is looking to investigating whether or not residential tenancy laws need updating and is looking for feedback from Central Coast real estate agents, tenants and housing groups.
Minister for Fair Trading, Victor Dominello, said the first of two issues to be considered was if improvements to 2019 laws which allow people to terminate residential leases in order to escape violent relationships were needed.
“These laws empower victims of domestic violence to take direct and immediate action to end a fixed-term or periodic tenancy without penalty, including ending a tenancy agreement to protect a dependent child,” Dominello said.
“The changes were introduced to reduce some of the barriers preventing victims from fleeing domestic violence and to give greater certainty about ending the tenancy.”
The laws also ensure victims are not responsible for any damage caused by a domestic violence perpetrator during a domestic violence offence.
Input is also sought on rules about keeping pets in rental homes to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.
“Although pet ownership is on the rise, NSW landlords can refuse to allow a tenant to keep an animal without providing any reason – unless it’s an assistance animal,” Dominello said.
“We are aware other jurisdictions have reformed their laws to make it easier to keep pets in rental properties, and we want to hear feedback from tenants, property managers, landlords and the general public on our current rules and whether they should be changed.”
Minister for Women’s Safety and Domestic Violence, Natalie Ward, said these consultations will help boost the NSW Government’s coordinated response to domestic and family violence.
Feedback will help shape any reforms that might be needed to the current laws.
The consultations are open until December 2 at: https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/pets-in-rental-homes?utm_medium=email&utm_source=MR and https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/dv-rental-laws-review?utm_medium=email&utm_source=MR.
For more information or to seek help on ending a tenancy due to domestic violence, go to https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/renting/during-a-tenancy/domestic-violence-in-a-rented-property.
Source:
Media release, Oct 20
NSW Government