Renters will face fewer hurdles to flee abusive relationships under tenancy changes to help people in dangerous living situations.
NSW is expanding its existing provisions for leases to be terminated due to domestic violence, ensuring more “approved people” can declare a tenant is experiencing violence.
Tenants will be able to use a court order or tribunal ruling to protect themselves when an abuser is excluded from a rental property by bail conditions, such as by changing the locks without landlord approval.
The changes would also allow people to leave a shared lease due to domestic violence without informing co-tenants.
Landlords and realtors will also need permission to use images showing a tenant’s personal belongings in advertising, to prevent the potential for perpetrators to track them down.
Renters who have been listed on residential tenancy databases will be able to go to Fair Trading to get off them by providing evidence of abuse.
The tribunal will be able to rule on whether damage to properties stemmed from incidents of abuse to prevent perpetrators dodging liability, and to break up bonds to better help survivors recover their share.
The changes should reduce risk and stress for people fleeing violence and provide clarity for landlords and agents, NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones said.
“This is about safety, dignity and fairness,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
“No one should be trapped in an unsafe relationship because of unfair rental laws.”
Accessing safe and affordable housing is a critical issue for people seeking to leave an abusive relationship, Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said.
“Many victim-survivors are unable to leave abusive relationships because they have nowhere else to live,” he said.
The announcements follow recommendations from a recent statutory review of domestic violence provisions added to tenancy legislation in 2019.
Consultation on the review began under the previous coalition government in 2022 and included surveys, polls and written submissions.
Targeted consultation continued with 40 government and non-government organisations in 2024 and 2025 before the review being finalised in July.
Premier Chris Minns said the changes were “common sense”, coming after consultation with abuse survivors and frontline services and aimed at making the law work better in real-life situations.
Domestic Violence Prevention Minister Jodie Harrison said the changes should support people leaving abusive relationships and reduce the risk of further financial harm.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
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