Prohibition of unwarranted eviction of pets and the right to live with tenants
Starting May 19, 2025, the New South Wales government will introduce major tenancy law reforms aimed at strengthening tenant protections. Under the new law, landlords will be prohibited from terminating leases without cause, and tenants will be allowed to keep pets with the landlord's written consent. This move is seen as a response to the growing number of renters facing rising rents and housing stress.
Reasonable grounds are required to terminate a lease
Under the new law, landlords must provide a valid reason to terminate a lease after the expiration of the lease; otherwise, they will not be allowed to unilaterally terminate the lease. This regulation aims to prevent landlords from raising rents by pretending to replace tenants, thereby ensuring tenants' housing stability. According to NSW government data, there has been an increase in the number of lease terminations without reason in recent years, putting tenants at a disadvantage in the market.
You can apply for the landlord's consent to keep pets
The new law also allows tenants to keep pets in their homes with the landlord's consent. Landlords who wish to refuse must provide a valid reason, such as structural unsuitability or safety risks. This arrangement protects tenants' quality of life while also respecting landlords' property management rights.
Tenants were already relieved of their obligations last year.
In fact, New South Wales has launched a number of reforms as early as October 2023: prohibiting landlords from charging background check fees from applicants, and explicitly stipulating that rents can only be adjusted once a year to prevent frequent rent increases from causing financial pressure on residents.
"More and more families are renting and we want them to feel like their property is truly home," NSW Premier Chris Minns said.
Tenants and landlords react differently
Tenant groups generally welcomed the reforms, believing them to be an important step towards fairness in Australia's housing system. However, some landlord groups expressed concerns that the new rules would make property management more difficult and weaken landlords' control over their assets.
Owners should pay attention to legal changes and management strategy adjustments
For landlords, this reform means that the rights and responsibilities of the leasing relationship will change. It is recommended to understand the content of the new law as early as possible and adjust the relevant lease terms and management models.
Meanwhile, while owners can raise objections to pet applications, they must provide legitimate reasons. It's recommended that the specific regulations or property restrictions be clearly stated to prevent future disputes. Regarding privacy protection and deposit system reform, owners should maintain communication with their property managers or lawyers to ensure that future fund management, tenant information retention, and lease renewal procedures comply with regulations.
During the transition period to the new system, proactively adapting to policy changes and strengthening communication with tenants will help reduce legal risks, maintain good leasing relationships and stabilize property returns.
The bill is currently before the New South Wales Parliament for deliberation. If passed, it will become the first state in Australia to explicitly prohibit the eviction of tenants without reason, and is expected to serve as a reference for rental reforms in other states.
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