NSW no-ground evictions ban to begin in May
From 19 May 2025, NSW property owners will not be allowed to evict tenants nor deny pets in their properties following the state’s latest slate of rental reforms.
The new rental rules follow a bill amendment passed in October of last year, which ended the “no-grounds” evictions in NSW and implemented new rules for pets in rental homes, fulfilling Labor 2023 election pledges.
Since then, the state has been in consultation with renters, investors, animal welfare groups and industry representatives to ensure the best outcomes for all parties.
Premier Chris Minns said the changes are needed to match the current property market as Australians have been renting for longer.
“With more than 2 million renters in NSW and over 600,000 investors, we have taken the time to get these major changes right,” Minns said.
“By banning no-grounds evictions, this will give renters much-needed housing security. This will let them make a house a home.”
Currently, landlords in NSW are permitted to end a periodic lease at any time as long as they provide tenants with 90 days’ notice, or a 30 days’ notice before terminating a fixed-term agreement of less than six months.
Under the new laws, owners will now be required to provide a valid reason to end all lease types.
Minns said the end to no-fault eviction would “make it fairer for millions of renters by bringing the rental market into the 21st century”.
Longer notice periods will also apply for some leases in the state, providing renters with greater certainty and time to find a new home while also ensuring that investors can still effectively manage their properties.
Additionally, renters who manage to locate a new property after receiving an eviction notice will also have access to improved rights to end a lease early in these circumstances.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson, said regulating the rental market was a key step in fixing the country’s housing crisis.
“We’ve inherited a rental system that was never designed for long-term tenants – this reform starts to lay new foundations for a fairer system,” Jackson said.
“This is a vital step towards a system that delivers real stability and security for the millions of people in NSW who rent.”
Tenants will also now be able to apply to keep a pet in their rental home, with owners only able to refuse for specific reasons, such as if the tenant fails to comply with local council laws, or if the owner is also residing at the property.
A new standardised application form and process have been developed to make the pet ownership process clearer and more efficient for both renters and owners.
In this new process, approval will be automatically granted to tenants if owners do not respond to pet applications within 21 days.
Moreover, renters will also now have access to convenient and free electronic payment options for their rent, with options such as direct bank transfers helping to prevent extra fees that add on to rental costs.
The government also noted that the newly established Rental Taskforce within NSW Fair Trading will be ensuring compliance with the new laws.
Further rental reforms, such as stronger privacy protections for renters and the introduction of a portable rental bond scheme, are set to be introduced later in 2025.
NSW Rental Commissioner, Trina Jones, emphasised the value of staying educated about changing rental laws within the state.
“Understanding your rights and responsibilities under the new rental laws will help you avoid penalties and disputes, and NSW Fair Trading is here to ensure renters, owners and agents have the right information to comply with the changes,” Jones said.