Landlords in NSW will no longer be allowed to reject pets without a valid reason, under a string of new rental laws set to be introduced next month.
Thewill also mandate fee-free rent payment options, ban no-grounds evictions, and prohibit charging for background checks during rental applications.
Here’s the latest.
Pet ownership
Currently, landlords can decide whether a tenant can keep a pet on their property — unless the pet is an assistance animal — without needing to provide a reason.
Under the proposed legislation, landlords will not be able to refuse pets without a valid reason. Reasons to refuse pets may include local government laws prohibiting certain pets or landlords living onsite who oppose animals.
It will remain illegal for landlords to refuse tenants with registered assistance animals.
Fee-free payment
The Government also announced a measure requiring real estate agents to provide fee-free payment options for tenants, such as electronic bank transfers or the Federal Government’s Centrepay system.
The Government said “it’s not fair” that “renters are being charged additional fees simply to pay their rent”.
NSW Premier Chris Minns added: “You don’t pay additional fees every time the mortgage comes out, and you shouldn’t have to pay to pay the rent”.
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The Government had previously announced this bill would include a ban on ‘no grounds’ evictions for renters in NSW, meaning landlords will need to provide a reason for ending a lease.
The reforms will also extend the minimum notice period for renters on fixed-term leases of less than six months – from 30 to 60 days.
Proposed laws will also prohibit online real estate platforms from charging ‘optional’ fees for background checks.
Minns said the bill will “make things a bit less stressful for renters, while getting the balance right”.
Tenants’ Union
The Tenants’ Union of NSW has welcomed the Government’s proposed measures as a “necessary first step” to addressing the problems faced by renters in the state.
The Union argues that restricting pet ownership for tenants is “not feasible”, adding that it can create “significant” risks for individuals trying to escape domestic violence situations.
It added that “while there’s still plenty to be done, these reforms are a crucial step toward making renting fairer”.
Opposition
A spokesperson for the NSW Coalition has said theshould be taking more action on housing supply and rental affordability “to genuinely make a difference for renters in NSW”.
It said: “[The Government] continues to talk about these reforms without delivering real outcomes for renters.”
