Residential Tenancies Act 1987
Western Australia
Residential Tenancies Act 1987
Contents
Part I — Preliminary
1.Short title2
2.Commencement2
3.Terms used2
4.Position of Crown5
5.Application of Act5
6.Modification of application of Act by regulation7
7.Transitional provisions relating to commencement of this Act8
Part II — Administration
7A.Commissioner10
8.Functions of Commissioner10
9.Commissioner may institute or defend proceedings for party11
10.Delegation by Commissioner14
11.Protection of officers14
11A.Information officially obtained to be confidential15
11B.Powers of investigation15
Part III — Determination of disputes
12.Terms used16
12A.Jurisdiction over prescribed disputes16
13.Jurisdiction over other disputes16
13A.Magistrates Court’s jurisdiction17
13B.Appeals from decisions of registrar18
14.Time for determination of proceedings18
15.Applications for relief and orders that may be made18
16.Enforcement20
17A.Disputes between tenants20
17B.Determination of rights and liabilities after termination of tenant’s interest on grounds of family violence21
17.Application to vary or set aside order22
18.Form of applications and notice of hearing23
19.Witnesses and inspection of documents23
20.General powers in proceedings24
21.Evidence25
22.Presentation of cases26
23.Settlement by conciliation28
24.Costs29
25.Reservation of question of law29
26.Finality of proceedings30
Part IV — Residential tenancy agreements
Division 1A — Form of residential tenancy agreement and associated documents
27A.Written residential tenancy agreement to be in prescribed form31
27B.Information to be given to tenant by lessor31
27C.Property condition report at start and end of tenancy31
Division 1 — Rent and security bonds
27.Restriction on consideration for tenancy agreement33
28.Rent in advance34
29.Security bonds34
30.Variation of rent (except where calculated by reference to tenant’s income)36
31A.Variation of rent where calculated by reference to tenant’s income37
31B.Increase in rent after renegotiating lease38
31.Increase in security bond38
32.Limitation of excessive rents in certain circumstances39
33.Duty to give receipt for rent41
34A.Manner of payment of rent42
34.Proper records of rent to be kept42
35.Payment of rent by post‑dated cheques etc. prohibited43
36.Apportionment of rent43
Division 2 — Standard terms
38.Tenant’s responsibility for cleanliness and damage43
39.Tenant’s conduct on premises44
40.Vacant possession44
41.Legal impediments to occupation as residence45
42.Lessor’s responsibility for cleanliness and repairs45
43.Urgent repairs46
44.Quiet enjoyment47
45.Securing premises48
46.Lessor’s right of entry49
47.Right of tenant to affix and remove fixtures etc.52
48.Lessor to bear outgoings in respect of premises56
49A.Lessor’s and tenant’s responsibilities in respect of public utility services57
49.Right of tenant to assign or sub‑let59
50.Vicarious responsibility of tenant for breach by other person lawfully on premises59
Division 3 — General
51.Tenant to be notified of lessor’s name and address60
52.Failure to pay rent with intention it be recovered from security bond61
53.Tenant’s name, place of employment and forwarding address61
54.Lessor to deliver copy of agreement to tenant62
55.Cost of written agreement to be borne by lessor62
56.Discrimination against tenants with children63
56A.Discrimination against tenants subjected or exposed to family violence63
57.Accelerated rent and liquidated damages prohibited64
58.Duty of mitigation64
59A.Minors65
59B.Death of one of 2 or more tenants65
59C.Recognition of certain persons as tenants66
59D.Tenant compensation bonds66
59E.Interference with quiet enjoyment67
59F.Offences relating to security of residential premises68
Part V — Termination of residential tenancy agreements
Division 1 — How residential tenancy agreements are terminated
60.How residential tenancy agreements and tenant’s interests in agreements are terminated69
Division 2 — Notices of termination
61.Form of notice of termination by lessor71
62.Notice of termination by lessor upon ground of breach of term of agreement71
63.Notice of termination by lessor who has entered into contract of sale73
64.Notice of termination by lessor without any ground74
65.Termination by lessor where s. 32 invoked75
66.Notice by lessor not waived by acceptance of rent75
67.Form of notice of termination by tenant76
68.Notice of termination by tenant76
69.Notice of termination by lessor or tenant where agreement frustrated76
70A.Notice of termination by lessor or tenant at end of fixed term tenancy77
70.Effect of notice of termination of periodic tenancy79
Division 2A — Special provisions about terminating tenant’s interest on grounds of family violence
71AA.Terms used79
71AB.Notice of termination of tenant’s interest on ground that tenant subject to family violence79
71AC.Review of notice of termination under s. 71AB81
71AD.Rights of co‑tenants after notice under s. 71AB81
71AE.Termination of tenant’s interest by court on grounds of family violence82
71AF.Review of Division84
Division 3 — Special provisions about terminating social housing tenancy agreements
Subdivision 1 — Preliminary
71A.Terms used84
71B.Application of Division85
Subdivision 2 — Notice of termination where tenant not eligible for social housing premises
71C.Notice of termination by lessor on ground that tenant not eligible for social housing premises85
71D.Assessment of tenants eligibility for social housing premises86
71E.Criteria for assessing eligibility of tenants for social housing premises under s. 71D86
71F.Review of decision to give notice on ground that tenant not eligible for social housing premises87
71G.Time periods to be observed where notice of termination given under this Subdivision88
Subdivision 3 — Notice of termination where tenant offered alternative social housing premises
71H.Notice of termination by lessor where tenant offered alternative social housing premises89
71I.Review of decision to give notice on ground that tenant offered alternative social housing premises89
71J.Time periods to be observed where notice of termination given under this Subdivision91
Division 4 — Orders for termination of residential tenancy agreement
71.Application by lessor for termination and order for possession92
72.Application for termination and order for possession in relation to fixed term agreements95
73A.Notice of termination not required in certain cases97
73.Termination of agreement where tenant causing serious damage or injury97
74.Termination of agreement where lessor or tenant would otherwise suffer undue hardship98
75A.Termination of social housing tenancy agreement due to objectionable behaviour98
75.Termination of agreement for breach by lessor99
76A.Termination of agreement by lessor if premises abandoned100
76B.Dispute about s. 76A notice100
Division 5 — General
76C.Fixed term tenancies continued as periodic tenancies101
76.Compensation to lessor for holding over101
77.Abandonment of premises102
78A.Order about abandonment102
78B.Review of abandonment order103
78.Right of lessor to compensation where tenant abandons premises103
79.Abandoned goods104
80A.Abandoned documents108
80.Recovery of possession of premises prohibited except by court order109
81A.Mortgagee repossessions of rented properties110
81B.Notice of proposed recovery of premises by person with superior title111
81.Order for tenancy against person with superior title112
Part VIA — Residential tenancy databases
Division 1 — Preliminary
82A.Terms used114
82B.Application of Part116
Division 2 — Tenancy database information
82C.Notice of usual use of database116
82D.Notice of listing if database used118
82E.Listing can be made only for particular breaches by particular persons119
82F.Further restriction on listing120
82G.Ensuring quality of listing — lessor’s or agent’s obligation121
82H.Ensuring quality of listing — database operator’s obligation121
82I.Providing copy of personal information listed122
82J.Disputes about listings123
82K.Keeping personal information listed124
Part VI — Miscellaneous
82.Contracting out126
83.Recovery of amounts paid under mistake of law or fact126
84.Exemption of tenancy agreement or premises from provision of Act126
85.Service127
86.Court may refer matter to Commissioner for investigation128
87A.Defence where lessor and property manager are both charged with the same offence129
87.Time for bringing proceedings129
88A.Infringement notices129
88B.Cross‑examination of persons in proceedings involving family violence132
88.Regulations132
90.Review of Act133
Part VII — Savings and transitional provisions relating to the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2011
Division 1 — Contracting out
91.Savings in relation to contracting out of standard terms134
Division 2 — Security bonds held in AFI
92.Terms used134
93.All security bonds to be transferred to bond administrator after renewal of agreement or within 18 months135
94.Requirements for AFI holding security bonds136
95.Power of Commissioner to obtain information relating to AFI security bond accounts137
96.Disposal of security bond held in AFIs138
Division 3 — Residential tenancy databases
97.Application of Part VIA to listings existing before commencement day140
Part 8 — Transitional provision relating to the Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2019
98.Application of s. 49A to residential tenancy agreements and utility charges141
Schedule 1 — Provisions relating to holding and disposal of bonds and income from bonds
Division 1 — General
1.Term used: authorised agent142
3.Rental Accommodation Account142
4.Duties of bond administrator144
Division 2 — Security bonds
5A.Security bond moneys to be paid to bond administrator145
5.Disposal of security bond by bond administrator145
8.Court may determine disposal of security bond146
Division 3 — Tenant compensation bonds
9.Application of Division148
10.Disposal of tenant compensation bond to tenant by bond administrator148
11.Disposal of tenant compensation bond to lessor by bond administrator149
Notes
Compilation table150
Other notes153
Defined terms
Western Australia
Residential Tenancies Act 1987
An Act to regulate the relationship of lessors and tenants under residential tenancy agreements, to consequentially amend certain Acts 1, and for connected purposes.
[Long title amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 4.]
This Act may be cited as the Residential Tenancies Act 1987.
This Act shall come into operation on such day as is fixed by proclamation.
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —
bond means a security bond or a tenant compensation bond;
bond administrator means the chief executive officer of the Department;
Commissioner means the person for the time being designated as the Commissioner under section 7A;
common area —
(a)means an area accessible to, or provided for the common use of, tenants; and
(b)includes common property (as defined in the Strata Titles Act 1985 section 3) of a strata scheme or survey strata scheme;
competent court, in relation to an application made under this Act, means a court that under section 12A or 13 has jurisdiction to hear and determine the application;
Department means the department of the Public Service principally assisting in the administration of this Act;
expiry day, in relation to a residential tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term, means the day on which the residential tenancy agreement would (but for the operation of this Act) upon its terms have terminated by effluxion of time or the happening of an event;
family violence has the meaning given in the Restraining Orders Act 1997 section 5A(1);
lessor —
(a)means a person who grants the right to occupy residential premises under a residential tenancy agreement; and
(b)includes —
(i)a personal representative, successor or assignee of a lessor; and
(ii)where the context requires, a prospective, or former, lessor;
premises includes —
(a)any part of premises; and
(b)land and appurtenances appurtenant to premises;
prescribed means prescribed in the regulations;
property manager means a person who is —
(a)licensed under the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978; and
(b)in relation to a residential tenancy agreement, the agent of the lessor of the premises to which the agreement relates;
reasonable grounds, for suspecting that a tenant has abandoned residential premises, means that the tenant has failed to pay rent under the residential tenancy agreement and that at least one of the following has occurred —
(a)the presence at the premises of uncollected mail, newspapers or other material;
(b)reports from neighbours of the tenant or from other persons indicating the tenant has abandoned the premises;
(c)the absence of household goods at the premises;
(d)the disconnection of services (including gas, electricity and telephone) to the premises;
rent means a payment under a residential tenancy agreement payable by the tenant in respect of the tenancy period or part of the tenancy period;
Rental Accommodation Account means the Rental Accommodation Account established under Schedule 1 clause 3;
residential premises means premises that constitute or are intended to constitute a place of residence;
residential tenancy agreement means any agreement, whether or not in writing and whether express or implied, under which any person for valuable consideration grants to any other person a right to occupy, whether exclusively or otherwise, any residential premises, or part of residential premises, for the purpose of residence;
security bond means an amount payable by a tenant as security for the performance of the tenant’s obligations under a residential tenancy agreement, including an amount referred to in section 29(1)(b)(ii);
social housing premises has the meaning given in section 71A;
social housing provider has the meaning given in section 71A;
social housing tenancy agreement has the meaning given in section 71A;
tenancy means the right of occupancy under a residential tenancy agreement;
tenancy period, in relation to a residential tenancy agreement, means the whole period during which the agreement is in force, whether the agreement is for a fixed term or creates a periodic tenancy;
tenant —
(a)means a person who is granted a right of occupancy of residential premises under a residential tenancy agreement; and
(b)includes, where the context requires, a prospective, or former, tenant;
tenant compensation bond means a bond referred to in section 59D(2).
[Section 3 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 4; No. 57 of 1997 s. 39(10); No. 59 of 2004 s. 118; No. 28 of 2006 s. 133; No. 60 of 2011 s. 5 and 90; No. 23 of 2014 s. 87; No. 3 of 2019 s. 4; No. 25 of 2019 s. 64.]
Subject to sections 5(2)(f) and 6, this Act binds the Crown.
(1)Subject to this section and sections 6 and 7, this Act applies to any residential tenancy agreement entered into, renewed, extended, assigned or otherwise transferred after the commencement of this Act.
(1A)This Act does not apply to a residential tenancy agreement that is a strata lease, within the meaning of the Strata Titles Act 1985.
Note for this subsection:
This subsection does not affect the application of this Act to a residential tenancy agreement that is a sublease of a strata lease.
(2)This Act does not apply to any residential tenancy agreement in any of the following circumstances —
(a)where the tenant is a party to an agreement for the sale and purchase of the premises, unless the period of the tenancy is one month or longer;
(b)where the agreement arises under a mortgage in respect of the premises;
(c)where the agreement arises under a scheme under which —
(i)a group of adjacent premises is owned by a company; and
(ii)the premises comprising the group are let by the company to persons who jointly have a controlling interest in the company;
(d)where the tenant is a boarder or lodger;
(e)where the agreement is bona fide entered into for the purpose of conferring on a person a right to occupy premises for a holiday;
(f)where the agreement is entered into as lessor, whether generally or in prescribed circumstances, by any prescribed person or agency being a person or agency that is acting on behalf of the Crown;
(g)where the agreement is a prescribed agreement, or is an agreement of a prescribed class.
(3)This Act does not apply to or in relation to any of the following —
(a)any part of a hotel or motel;
(b)accommodation for students provided —
(i)by an educational institution; or
(ii)by an entity, other than the educational institution, if the accommodation is provided other than for the purpose of making a profit,
unless the accommodation is prescribed, or is of a class prescribed, for the purposes of this paragraph;
(ca)any part of a hospital or nursing home;
(c)any premises used for the purposes of a club;
(d)any premises used to provide residential care to approved care recipients by an approved provider as defined in the Aged Care Act 1997 (Commonwealth);
(e)any prescribed premises or premises of a prescribed class.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (2)(e), an agreement conferring a right to occupy premises for a fixed term of 3 months or longer shall be deemed, in the absence of proof to the contrary, not to have been entered into bona fide for the purpose of conferring a right to occupy the premises for a holiday.
(5)Subject to subsection (6), this Act applies to a site at a caravan park, within the meaning of the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act 1995 (whether or not a caravan, within the meaning of that Act, is situated on that site) as if the site was residential premises for the purposes of this Act.
(6)This Act does not apply to a site at a residential park, within the meaning of the Residential Parks (Long-stay Tenants) Act 2006, other than in relation to a residential tenancy agreement —
(a)under which a person has a right to occupy such a site; and
(b)that is an existing fixed term long-stay agreement made in writing, to which the Residential Parks (Long-stay Tenants) Act 2006 does not apply in accordance with section 6(4) of that Act.
(7)Subsection (6) has effect despite section 8(1) of the Residential Parks (Long-stay Tenants) Act 2006.
[Section 5 amended: No. 34 of 1995 s. 33; No. 32 of 2006 s. 98; No. 60 of 2011 s. 6; No. 30 of 2018 s. 182.]
6.Modification of application of Act by regulation
The Governor may by regulation provide that a provision of this Act shall not apply to or in relation to, or shall apply in a modified manner to, the following, or any combination of the following —
(a)any residential tenancy agreement or class of residential tenancy agreements; or
(b)any premises or class of premises; or
(c)any prescribed person or agency being a person or agency that is acting on behalf of the Crown.
7.Transitional provisions relating to commencement of this Act
(1)Where —
(a)a residential tenancy agreement was entered into before the commencement of this Act and continues after such commencement; and
(b)the tenancy under the agreement is a periodic tenancy,
this Act shall, subject to any other provision of this Act, apply to the agreement on and from the first day after such commencement on which rent is payable under the agreement.
(2)Where this Act applies to a residential tenancy agreement by virtue of subsection (1) —
(a)any proceedings commenced in relation to the agreement before that application may be continued and completed as if this Act had not come into operation; and
(b)any notice to quit given in relation to the agreement before that application shall have effect and may be enforced as if this Act had not come into operation; and
(c)any process commenced before that application, being a process whereby the rent may be increased under the agreement, may be continued and completed and shall have effect to increase the rent as if this Act had not come into operation, but subject to any order under section 32; and
(d)proceedings may be brought subject to and in accordance with this Act in respect of any cause of action that arose before that application, not being a cause of action subject to proceedings at the time of that application; and
(e)no civil or criminal liability shall be incurred by virtue of that application in respect of any act or omission before that application.
(3)Where —
(a)this Act becomes applicable to a residential tenancy agreement by reason of a renewal, extension, assignment or transfer referred to in section 5(1); and
(b)at the time of such application a security bond in respect of the agreement has been paid to the lessor or a person acting on the lessor’s behalf,
the following provisions apply —
(c)the lessor shall cause the person who is holding the security bond to pay the amount of the security bond allowed by section 29(1), or such lesser amount as is held, to the bond administrator;
(d)each payment referred to in paragraph (c) shall be made not later than 21 days after this Act becomes applicable to the residential tenancy agreement;
(e)any amount paid to the bond administrator must be credited to the Rental Accommodation Account and is to be taken, for the purposes of this Act, to have been paid under section 29(4)(b).
(4)Nothing in section 29(4) applies to a periodic tenancy to which this Act becomes applicable by virtue of subsection (1).
[Section 7 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 56; No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 149(5); No. 60 of 2011 s. 7 and 89.]
(1)The Minister is required, by notice published in the Gazette, to designate a person who is an executive officer of the Department as the Commissioner for the purposes of this Act.
(2)The Commissioner may be referred to by a title specified by the Minister by notice published in the Gazette.
(3)In this section —
executive officer has the meaning given by section 3(1) of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.
[Section 7A inserted: No. 28 of 2006 s. 134.]
(1)The Commissioner has the following functions for the purposes of this Act —
(a)the investigation of and conduct of research into matters relating to the interests of parties to residential tenancy agreements generally or any particular party or parties;
(b)the publication of reports and the dissemination of information on matters relating to the interests of parties to residential tenancy agreements;
(c)the giving of advice to persons on the provisions of this Act or any other law relating to or affecting the interests of parties to residential tenancy agreements;
(d)the investigation, upon the complaint of a party to a residential tenancy agreement or otherwise, of an offence against this Act or of an infringement of a party’s rights arising out of any residential tenancy agreement and the taking of action by negotiation, prosecution of such offence or otherwise;
(e)the making of reports to the Minister on matters referred to the Commissioner by the Minister and matters of importance investigated by the Commissioner, whether referred to the Commissioner by the Minister or not.
[(2)deleted]
[Section 8 amended: No. 28 of 2006 s. 135.]
9.Commissioner may institute or defend proceedings for party
(1A)In this section —
party, in relation to a residential tenancy agreement, means a lessor or tenant under that agreement.
(1)The Commissioner may, upon being satisfied that there is a cause of action and that it is in the public interest, on behalf of any party to a residential tenancy agreement, institute legal proceedings against any other person or defend any proceedings brought against the party or assume the conduct of proceedings already commenced by or against the party, with a view to enforcing or protecting the rights of the party in relation to any infringement or suspected infringement by that other person of those rights or of any of the provisions of this Act or other law relating to the interests of such parties.
(2)The Commissioner may, if the Commissioner considers it appropriate, on behalf of any tenant, institute proceedings under section 32 or assume the conduct of proceedings already commenced under that section by the tenant.
(3)The Commissioner shall not institute, defend or assume the conduct of, any proceedings under subsection (1) or (2) on behalf of a party —
(a)without first —
(i)obtaining the written consent of the party which once given shall be irrevocable except with the consent of the Commissioner; and
(ii)obtaining the written consent of the Minister which may be given subject to such conditions as the Minister thinks fit;
and
(b)in relation to a residential tenancy agreement that has terminated unless a complaint is made to the Commissioner by a person who was a party to that agreement within 3 months after termination of the residential tenancy agreement.
(4)In relation to any proceedings referred to in subsection (1) or (2) the following provisions shall apply —
(a)the Commissioner shall, on behalf of the party to the residential tenancy agreement, have in all respects the same rights in, and control over, the proceedings, including the right to settle any action or part of any action, as the party would have had in the conduct of those proceedings; and
(b)the Commissioner may, without consulting or seeking the consent of the party, conduct the proceedings in such manner as the Commissioner thinks appropriate and proper; and
(c)in the case of proceedings already commenced by or against the party, the court hearing the proceedings shall, on the application of the Commissioner, order that the Commissioner be substituted for the party as a party to the proceedings, and may make such other orders or give such other directions in that behalf as the court thinks fit; and
(d)any moneys (excluding costs) recovered by the Commissioner shall belong and be paid to the party without deduction and any amount awarded against the party shall be paid by and recoverable from the party, but in all cases the costs of the proceedings shall be borne by or paid to and retained by the Commissioner as the case may require; and
(e)if any party to the proceedings alleges another cause of action, or if the party on whose behalf the proceedings are being defended has another cause of action, the court hearing the proceedings shall, on the application of the Commissioner, order that the proceedings for the other cause of action be heard separately and that the party be a party to those proceedings in the party’s own right and may make such other orders or give such other directions in that behalf as the court thinks fit.
(5)In any proceedings referred to in subsection (1), a document purporting to be signed by the Commissioner stating in respect of the proceedings that the Commissioner is satisfied that there is a cause of action and that it is in the public interest to institute, defend or assume the conduct of the proceedings, as the case may be, on behalf of the party to the residential tenancy agreement shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be accepted as proof that the Commissioner instituted, defended or assumed the conduct of the proceedings, as the case may be, in accordance with that subsection.
(6)In any proceedings referred to in subsection (2), a document purporting to be signed by the Commissioner stating in respect of the proceedings that the Commissioner considers it appropriate to institute or assume the conduct of the proceedings, as the case may be, on behalf of the tenant shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be accepted as proof that the Commissioner instituted or assumed the conduct of the proceedings, as the case may be, in accordance with that subsection.
(7)In any proceedings referred to in subsection (1) or (2) —
(a)a document purporting to be the consent of the party to the residential tenancy agreement to the Commissioner instituting, defending or assuming the conduct of the proceedings, as the case may be; or
(b)a document purporting to be the Minister’s consent to the Commissioner instituting, defending or assuming the conduct of the proceedings, as the case may be,
shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be accepted as proof of the matters referred to in the document.
(8)Any money which the Commissioner becomes liable to pay by virtue of this section shall be charged to the Consolidated Account and this subsection, without any further appropriation, shall be sufficient authority for any such payment.
(9)Any costs received by the Commissioner under subsection (4)(d) shall be credited to the Consolidated Account.
[Section 9 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 6 of 1993 s. 11; No. 59 of 1995 s. 56; No. 59 of 2004 s. 121; No. 77 of 2006 s. 4; No. 60 of 2011 s. 8.]
The Commissioner may by notice published in the Gazette delegate any of the Commissioner’s functions under this Act (other than this power of delegation) to the holder of any specified office in the public service of the State or to any specified officer of an agency or instrumentality of the Crown.
[Section 10 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 9.]
No liability shall attach to the Commissioner or any delegate of the Commissioner, or any officer of the Department for any act or omission by the Commissioner, the delegate, or the officer in good faith and in the performance or purported performance of the functions of the Commissioner or the Department under this Act.
11A.Information officially obtained to be confidential
(1)A person who misuses information obtained by reason of any function that person has, or at any time had, in the administration of this Act commits an offence.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $20 000.
(2)A person misuses information if it is, directly or indirectly, recorded, used, or disclosed to another person, other than —
(a)in the course of duty; or
(b)under this Act; or
(c)for the purposes of the investigation of any suspected offence or the conduct of proceedings against any person for an offence; or
(d)in a manner that could not reasonably be expected to lead to the identification of any person to whom the information refers; or
(e)with the consent of the person to whom the information relates, or each of them if there is more than one.
(3)In this section —
information means information concerning the affairs of a person.
[Section 11A inserted: No. 28 of 2006 s. 136; amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 10; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
The Fair Trading Act 2010 section 61 and Part 6 of that Act apply to this Act.
[Section 11B inserted: No. 58 of 2010 s. 189.]
Part III — Determination of disputes
In this Part —
prescribed amount means $10 000 or such other amount as may be prescribed;
prescribed dispute means any matter that may be the subject of an application under this Act, other than an application made under this Act that is, or involves, a claim for an amount over the prescribed amount, but includes an application made under clause 8 of Schedule 1, irrespective of the amount claimed.
[Section 12 inserted: No. 59 of 2004 s. 119.]
12A.Jurisdiction over prescribed disputes
(1)The Magistrates Court has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine a prescribed dispute and such disputes are not justiciable by any other court or tribunal.
(2)A prescribed dispute is a minor case for the purposes of Part 4 of the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 and the jurisdiction conferred by subsection (1) is to be exercised accordingly.
[Section 12A inserted: No. 59 of 2004 s. 119.]
13.Jurisdiction over other disputes
(1)If an application made under this Act is, or involves, a claim for an amount over the prescribed amount, any court that is competent to hear and determine a claim founded on contract for the amount of that claim has jurisdiction to hear and determine the application.
(2)To the extent that subsection (1) confers jurisdiction on the Magistrates Court, that jurisdiction is not to be exercised in accordance with Part 4 of the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004.
(3)Despite subsection (2), the parties to an application referred to in subsection (1) in respect of which the Magistrates Court has jurisdiction may consent in writing (which consent is irrevocable) to the proceedings being heard and determined by the Magistrates Court in accordance with Part 4 of the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004.
(4)In respect of the hearing and determination of an application referred to in subsection (1) —
(a)the practice and procedure applicable in the court dealing with the application shall, subject to subsection (3), apply and this Part (other than this subsection) and regulations made for the purposes of this Part shall not apply; but
(b)subject to paragraph (a), this Act shall apply.
(5)If on an application referred to in subsection (1) the plaintiff recovers an amount that is not more than the prescribed amount, the plaintiff shall not be awarded any costs unless the court is satisfied that at the time of making the application there were reasonable grounds for the plaintiff to believe that the plaintiff had a claim for an amount over the prescribed amount.
[Section 13 inserted: No. 59 of 2004 s. 119; amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 11.]
13A.Magistrates Court’s jurisdiction
(1)For the purpose of exercising the jurisdiction conferred by section 12A and 13, the Magistrates Court is to be constituted by a magistrate.
(2)Despite subsection (1), a registrar of the Magistrates Court may, subject to the directions of a magistrate, exercise the court’s jurisdiction in respect of any application that is to be dealt with in accordance with Part 4 of the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 if —
(a)the application is within a prescribed class of applications; and
(b)either —
(i)the application is not disputed; or
(ii)a party to the application does not appear.
(3)An application made under this Act to the Magistrates Court shall be made to the court at the place nearest to the place where the premises the subject of the proceedings are situated.
(4)Subsection (3) does not prevent the Magistrates Court from making an order under the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 section 22 that proceedings under this Act are to be conducted at another place in the State.
[Section 13A inserted: No. 59 of 2004 s. 119; amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 12.]
13B.Appeals from decisions of registrar
A person dissatisfied with a decision of a registrar in respect of a matter on which a registrar has exercised jurisdiction under section 13A(2) may appeal to a magistrate under section 29 of the Magistrates Court Act 2004.
[Section 13B inserted: No. 69 of 2006 s. 29.]
14.Time for determination of proceedings
Proceedings under this Act shall be heard and determined wherever practicable within 14 days after they are instituted and, where that is not practicable, as expeditiously as possible.
15.Applications for relief and orders that may be made
(1)Where a lessor or tenant under a residential tenancy agreement or a party to an agreement for an option to enter into a residential tenancy agreement claims that a breach of the agreement has occurred or that a dispute has arisen under the agreement, the lessor or tenant may apply for relief to a competent court.
(2)Upon such an application the court may —
(a)by such order as it considers appropriate in the circumstances —
(i)restrain any action in breach of the agreement; or
(ii)require any action in performance of the agreement;
and
(b)order the payment of any amount payable under the agreement; and
(c)order the payment of compensation for loss or injury, other than personal injury, caused by any breach of the agreement; and
(d)authorise payment of the rent under the agreement into the Magistrates Court until the agreement has been performed or any application for compensation has been determined, and order that such rent be paid out towards the cost of remedying the breach or towards the amount of any compensation or otherwise as it considers appropriate; and
(e)make such ancillary or incidental order as the court considers appropriate.
(3)The court may make an order under subsection (2)(a) notwithstanding that it provides a remedy in the nature of an injunction or order for specific performance in circumstances in which such remedy would not otherwise be available.
(4)Upon an application with respect to the breach of a residential tenancy agreement, the court shall take into account any previous breaches by the lessor or tenant of the agreement.
(5)The court may order that a person be joined as a party to the proceedings if the court considers that —
(a)the person ought to be bound by, or have the benefit of, a decision of the court in the proceedings; or
(b)the person’s interests are affected by the proceedings; or
(c)for any other reason it is desirable that the person be joined as a party.
(6)The court may make an order under subsection (5) on the application of any person or on its own initiative.
[Section 15 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 8 and 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120 and 121; No. 60 of 2011 s. 13 and 89; No. 17 of 2014 s. 5.]
(1)A person shall not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with an order under section 15(2) other than an order for payment of any amount.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $10 000.
(2)An order made under this Act by a competent court may be enforced as if it were a judgment of that court.
[Section 16 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 9; No. 59 of 2004 s. 121; No. 60 of 2011 s. 14; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
(1)Where 2 or more tenants under a residential tenancy agreement are jointly liable under the agreement to pay an amount to the lessor and one of the tenants (the first tenant) pays another tenant’s portion of that amount, the first tenant may apply to a competent court for an order that the other tenant pay to the first tenant the other tenant’s portion.
(2)The court hearing the application may —
(a)make the order referred to in subsection (1); and
(b)order the payment of compensation to the first tenant by the other tenant for loss or injury, other than personal injury, caused by a failure by the other tenant to pay that tenant’s portion of the amount referred to in subsection (1); and
(c)make such ancillary or incidental order as the court considers appropriate.
[Section 17A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 15.]
17B.Determination of rights and liabilities after termination of tenant’s interest on grounds of family violence
(1)A tenant, or former tenant, under a residential tenancy agreement may apply to a competent court for a determination of the rights and liabilities of the parties to the agreement once the former tenant’s interest in the agreement has been terminated under section 60(1)(ba) or (bb).
(2)When hearing an application under subsection (1) or section 71AE(3), the court —
(a)must determine the rights and liabilities of the parties to the agreement, as affected by the termination; and
(b)may order a party to pay compensation to another party for loss or injury, other than personal injury, relating to the termination.
(3)Without limiting subsection (2), a determination or order under that provision may apportion the disposal of a security bond to the lessor and each tenant or former tenant as appropriate having regard to subsection (4).
(4)Despite any law to the contrary, each tenant under a residential tenancy agreement has an equal interest in the security bond in respect of the agreement unless the court in a particular case determines otherwise under this section.
(5)In making a determination or order under subsection (2), the court must have regard to all of the following principles —
(a)that family violence is a fundamental violation of human rights and is unacceptable in any form;
(b)the need to prevent further victimisation of a person who has experienced family violence through the unjust application of the principle of joint and several liability or the principle of vicarious liability;
(c)the need to maximise the safety of persons who have experienced family violence by reducing any financial burden arising from the family violence;
(d)the need to prevent, or reduce to the greatest extent possible, the consequences of family violence;
(e)the need to protect the wellbeing of children by preventing them from being subjected or exposed to further family violence;
(f)the need to encourage perpetrators of family violence to accept responsibility for their behaviour and the effect it has on others.
(6)Nothing in subsection (2) is to be read as enabling the court to order compensation for early termination of a residential tenancy agreement.
[Section 17B inserted: No. 3 of 2019 s. 5.]
17.Application to vary or set aside order
(1)A person who is or was a party to any proceedings on an application under this Act may apply to a competent court for an order varying or setting aside an order made in those proceedings if the application was heard in the person’s absence.
(2)An application to vary or set aside an order, other than an order under section 84, must be made within 14 days after the making of the order.
[Section 17 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 121; No. 60 of 2011 s. 16.]
18.Form of applications and notice of hearing
(1)Any application under this Act shall —
(a)be made in writing in a form approved by the Minister; and
(b)be accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any).
(2)Before a competent court hears an application the court shall —
(a)give to the applicant notice in writing setting out the time and place of the hearing; and
(b)give to any other party —
(i)notice in writing setting out the time and place of the hearing; and
(ii)such notice of the nature of the application as is required by rules of court or directed by the court in a particular case.
[Section 18 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 10; No. 59 of 2004 s. 121.]
19.Witnesses and inspection of documents
(1)For the purpose of any proceedings —
(a)a competent court may by summons —
(i)require the attendance of any person before the court; or
(ii)require the production of any books, papers or documents; or
(iii)require both such attendance and production;
(b)a competent court may —
(i)inspect any books, papers or documents produced, retain them for such reasonable period as it thinks fit, and make copies of any of them, or of any of their contents;
(ii)require any person appearing before it to make an oath or affirmation that the person will truly answer any relevant question put to the person by the court or any person appearing before the court;
(iii)require any person appearing before it (whether the person has been summoned to appear or not) to answer any relevant question put to the person by the court or any person appearing before the court.
(2)A person shall not —
(a)without reasonable excuse fail to comply with the requirements of a summons served on the person under subsection (1); or
(b)refuse or fail to comply with a requirement under subsection (1).
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $10 000.
[Section 19 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 11 and 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(2) and 121; No. 60 of 2011 s. 17; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
20.General powers in proceedings
A competent court hearing any application may —
(a)hear the application in such manner as it considers best suited to the purposes of this Act; and
(b)decline to entertain the application if it considers that the application is frivolous; and
(c)proceed to hear and determine the application in the absence of any party thereto; and
(d)where a person contravenes subsection (2) of section 19, issue a warrant to bring the person before a competent court for the purposes of subsection (1) of that section; and
(e)order the refund to a person of a fee paid under section 18(1) by that person; and
(f)extend or shorten any period prescribed by or under this Act within which any action must be taken, such power to extend a period being exercisable notwithstanding that that period has expired; and
(g)vary or set aside any order where it considers there are proper grounds for doing so; and
(h)adjourn the hearing to any time or place or to a time and place to be fixed; and
(i)allow the amendment of the application; and
(j)hear the application jointly with any other application; and
(k)receive in evidence any transcript of evidence in proceedings before the court or any other court and draw any conclusions of fact therefrom that it considers proper; and
(l)adopt, as it considers proper, any findings, decision or judgment of the court or any other court that may be relevant to the proceedings; and
(m)generally give all such directions and do all such things that it thinks necessary or expedient in the proceedings.
[Section 20 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 12 and 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(1) and (2) and 121; No. 60 of 2011 s. 18.]
In any proceedings on an application under this Act, a competent court shall not be bound by the rules of evidence but may inform itself upon any matter relating to the proceedings in such manner as it thinks fit.
[Section 21 inserted: No. 59 of 2004 s. 121.]
(1A)In this section —
proceedings means proceedings under this Act other than proceedings for an offence against this Act.
(1)Except as provided in this section, a party to any proceedings shall present the party’s own case and not be represented or assisted in the presentation of the party’s case by another person.
(2)A party to any proceedings may be represented or assisted by an agent in the presentation of the party’s case if —
(a)the agent is authorised by the party to do so and is —
(i)the property manager of the premises the subject of the proceedings; or
(ii)employed or engaged by a non‑profit association or similar body to act as an advocate for tenants or lessors in proceedings;
or
(b)the court makes an order under subsection (3C).
(3A)The authorisation mentioned in subsection (2)(a) must —
(a)be made in writing in a form approved by the Minister; and
(b)be lodged with the court together with the application, or response to the application, to which the proceedings relate, as the case requires.
(3B)Without limiting how an agent representing or assisting a party under subsection (2)(a) may represent or assist the party, the agent may initiate proceedings on behalf of the party.
(3C)The court may order that a party to proceedings may be represented or assisted by an agent in the presentation of the party’s case if the court hearing the proceeding is satisfied that —
(a)the party is unable to appear personally or conduct the proceedings on the party’s own behalf; and
(b)another party to the proceedings will not be disadvantaged by the party being represented by, or assisted by, the agent.
(3)All or any of the parties to any proceedings may be represented by legal practitioners if any of the following applies —
(a)all the parties agree and the court hearing the proceedings is satisfied that any party who is not so represented will not be unfairly disadvantaged;
(b)one of the parties is a legally qualified person;
(c)one of the parties is a body corporate and any other party elects to be so represented;
(d)the court is satisfied that one of the parties is unable to conduct the proceedings without representation by a legal practitioner;
(e)the proceedings are instituted or defended, or the conduct thereof has been assumed, by the Commissioner.
(4)This section does not prevent —
(a)a body corporate from being represented by an officer or employee of the body corporate (not being a legally qualified person) authorised to conduct the proceedings on its behalf (whether or not the officer or employee is remunerated by the body corporate for representing it in the proceedings); or
(b)a person from acting as an interpreter for a party, if the person’s fee does not exceed an amount fixed by the court at the hearing.
(5)A person shall not demand or receive any fee or reward for representing or assisting a party to proceedings unless —
(a)the person is a legal practitioner; or
(b)where the party is a body corporate, the person is an officer or employee of the body corporate representing it under subsection (4); or
(c)where the party is a lessor, the person is a property manager of the premises the subject of the proceedings.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(6)In this section —
agent means any person who is not a legally qualified person;
legally qualified person means a lawyer or a person who holds or has held legal qualifications under the laws of this State or any other place.
[Section 22 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 65 of 2003 s. 61; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(3); No. 21 of 2008 s. 698; No. 60 of 2011 s. 19; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25; No. 25 of 2019 s. 65; No. 9 of 2022 s. 424.]
(1)If before or during the hearing of any proceedings it appears to a competent court either from the nature of the case or from the attitude of the parties that there is a reasonable possibility of matters in dispute between the parties being settled by conciliation, it may —
(a)interview the parties in private (either with or without any person who may be representing any of them or assisting any of them in the presentation of the party’s case); and
(b)endeavour to bring about a settlement of the proceedings on terms that are fair to all parties.
(2)Nothing said or done in the course of any attempt to settle proceedings under this section shall subsequently be given in evidence in any proceedings nor shall the judicial officer who presided be thereby disqualified from hearing or continuing to hear the proceedings if the judicial officer thinks fit to do so.
(3)Where proceedings are settled under this section, the court may embody the terms of the settlement in an order.
(4)The order is valid despite any inconsistency with Part IV or V.
[Section 23 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(2) and (3) and 121; No. 60 of 2011 s. 20.]
(1)A competent court hearing proceedings shall not award costs, unless —
(a)all parties to the proceedings were represented by legal practitioners; or
(b)it is of the opinion that there are special circumstances justifying the award of costs.
(2)Where a party to the proceedings has paid a fee under section 18(1), nothing in subsection (1) is to be taken to prevent a court making an order which requires any other party to the proceedings to pay to the first‑mentioned party the amount of that fee.
[Section 24 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 1995 s. 45; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(2) and (3) and 121; No. 9 of 2022 s. 424.]
25.Reservation of question of law
(1)A competent court hearing proceedings may reserve any question of law for the decision of the Supreme Court.
(2)Any costs arising from the reservation of any question under this section, including any costs incurred by the parties to the proceedings, shall be charged to the Consolidated Account and this subsection, without any further appropriation, shall be sufficient authority for any such payment.
[Section 25 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 6 of 1993 s. 11; No. 59 of 1995 s. 56; No. 59 of 2004 s. 121; No. 77 of 2006 s. 4.]
(1)An order made by a court under this Act is final and binding on all parties to the proceedings in which the order is made and on all persons who under this Act could have become entitled to be joined as a party to the proceeding in which the order is made, and no appeal shall lie in respect thereof.
(2)No declaratory judgment shall be given and no order shall be made under section 36 of the Magistrates Court Act 2004 in respect of proceedings taken or to be taken under this Act in the Magistrates Court or any order made in such proceedings by that court, unless the Supreme Court is satisfied that the Magistrates Court had or has no jurisdiction conferred by or under this Act in respect of the proceedings or that a party to the proceedings has been denied natural justice.
(3)This section applies despite Part 7 of the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004.
[Section 26 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 13; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(3) and 121; No. 69 of 2006 s. 30.]
Part IV — Residential tenancy agreements
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 21.]
Division 1A — Form of residential tenancy agreement and associated documents
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 22.]
27A.Written residential tenancy agreement to be in prescribed form
A lessor must not enter into a written residential tenancy agreement except in the prescribed form.
Penalty: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 27A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 22.]
27B.Information to be given to tenant by lessor
A lessor must give a copy of the information (if any) prescribed for the purposes of this section to each tenant —
(a)in the case of a written residential tenancy agreement, at the time of entering into the agreement; or
(b)in any other case, within 14 days after the tenant has taken possession of the residential premises.
Penalty: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 27B inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 22.]
27C.Property condition report at start and end of tenancy
(1)A lessor must, within 7 days after a tenant has entered into occupation of residential premises under a residential tenancy agreement —
(a)prepare a report describing the condition of the premises; and
(b)provide 2 copies of the report to the tenant.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)A tenant given copies of a report under subsection (1)(b) who disagrees with any information in the report must, within 7 days of receiving the copies —
(a)mark a copy in a manner that shows the information with which the tenant disagrees; and
(b)give the copy back to the lessor.
(3)If the tenant does not give a copy of the report back to the lessor under subsection (2), the tenant is to be taken to accept the report as a true and accurate description of the condition of the residential premises.
(4)A lessor must, as soon as practicable, and in any event within 14 days, after the termination of a tenancy or tenant’s interest in a residential tenancy agreement —
(a)conduct an inspection of the residential premises; and
(b)prepare a final report describing the condition of the premises; and
(c)provide a copy of the report to the tenant.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(4A)A lessor is taken to comply with subsection (4) if, before the termination of a tenant’s interest, the lessor —
(a)enters residential premises under section 46(6B); and
(b)in relation to that entry —
(i)conducts an inspection of the premises; and
(ii)prepares a report describing the condition of the premises; and
(iii)provides a copy of the report to the tenant.
(5)The tenant is to be given a reasonable opportunity to be present at the inspection conducted under subsection (4)(a) or (4A)(a).
(6)The regulations may prescribe information that must be included in a property condition report.
[Section 27C inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 22; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 6 and 25.]
Division 1 — Rent and security bonds
27.Restriction on consideration for tenancy agreement
(1)Subject to subsection (2), a person shall not require or receive from a tenant any monetary amount for or in relation to a residential tenancy agreement other than rent and a security bond.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to —
(a)any amount, not exceeding a prescribed amount, required or received as consideration for an option to enter into a residential tenancy agreement if —
(i)upon the option being exercised, the amount is refunded in cash or applied towards the rent payable under the agreement; or
(ii)upon the option being refused, and within 7 days of the decision to refuse the option, the amount is refunded in cash, by electronic means or in any other prescribed way;
and
(b)any amount that the lessor is authorised by any other provision of this Act to require or receive; and
[(c)deleted]
(d)any other payment of a prescribed class.
[Section 27 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 46 and 55; No. 60 of 2011 s. 23 and 89; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
(1)A person shall not require before or during the first 2 weeks of the tenancy under a residential tenancy agreement as rent under the agreement an amount exceeding 2 weeks’ rent.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)A person must not require any payment of rent (other than the first payment) under a residential tenancy agreement —
(a)until the period of the tenancy in respect of which any previous payment has been made has elapsed; and
(b)unless the amount does not exceed 2 weeks’ rent.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 28 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 55; No. 60 of 2011 s. 24; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
(1A)In this section, unless the contrary intention appears —
pet does not include an assistance dog as defined in the Dog Act 1976 section 8(1);
security bond includes an instalment of a security bond.
(1)A person shall not —
(a)require the payment of, or receive, more than one security bond in relation to any residential tenancy agreement; or
(b)require the payment of, or receive, a security bond of an amount exceeding in the aggregate —
(i)4 weeks’ rent under the residential tenancy agreement in relation to which it is required or received; and
(ii)if the tenant is permitted to keep on the premises any pet capable of carrying parasites that can affect humans — a prescribed amount to meet the cost of any fumigation of the premises that may be required on the termination of the tenancy.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2A)Subsection (1)(a) does not prevent a person from receiving a security bond in instalments.
(2)Subsection (1)(b) does not apply in relation to a residential tenancy agreement where the weekly rate of rent payable under the agreement exceeds a prescribed amount.
(3)Where, during the period of 6 months after the day on which the tenancy under a residential tenancy agreement commenced, the rent payable under the agreement decreases or is decreased, the amount paid in excess of the lower or, as the case may be, lowest rate of rent payable under the agreement during that period, together with the amount (if any) allowed by subsection (1)(b)(ii), shall be deemed to have been paid as a security bond.
(4)A person who receives a security bond paid in relation to a residential tenancy agreement —
(a)shall forthwith give or cause to be given to the person paying the bond a receipt specifying the date on which the bond was received, the name of the person paying the bond, the amount paid and the premises in respect of which it is paid; and
(b)shall pay the amount of the bond to the bond administrator in accordance with Schedule 1 clause 5A; and
(c)shall, at the time of making the payment referred to in paragraph (b), lodge with the bond administrator a record in a form approved by the Minister relating to the payment.
[(d)deleted]
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $20 000.
[(5)deleted]
(6)A person shall not make an entry in a record referred to in subsection (4)(c) that the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(7)The bond administrator must pay the amount of the security bond in accordance with Schedule 1 clause 5.
(8)A lessor and property manager must ensure that an application form referred to in Schedule 1 clause 5(1)(a) is not signed by a tenant unless —
(a)the residential tenancy agreement to which the security bond relates has terminated; and
(b)any amount of the security bond to be paid to the lessor or tenant is stipulated on the form.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(9)Nothing in subsection (1)(a) prevents the lessor from requiring further payment from a remaining tenant towards the security bond in order to cover the disposal of a former tenant’s portion of the security bond under section 17B(3).
[Section 29 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 47 and 55; No. 69 of 2006 s. 31; No. 60 of 2011 s. 25; No. 18 of 2013 s. 62; No. 3 of 2019 .s 7 and 25.]
[29A.Deleted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 26.]
30.Variation of rent (except where calculated by reference to tenant’s income)
(1)Subject to this section and except where rent payable under a residential tenancy agreement is calculated by reference to the tenant’s income, the rent payable under a residential tenancy agreement may be increased by the lessor by written notice to the tenant, in a form approved by the Minister, specifying the amount of the increased rent and the day as from which the increased rent becomes payable, being a day —
(a)not less than 60 days after the day on which the notice is given; and
(b)not less than 6 months after the day on which the tenancy commenced, or, if the rent has been increased under this section, the day on which it was last so increased,
but otherwise the rent shall not increase or be increased.
(2)The right of the lessor to increase rent in accordance with subsection (1) —
(a)is not exercisable in relation to a residential tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term during the currency of that term unless the amount of the increase, or the method of calculating the amount of the increase, is set out in the agreement; and
(b)in any case, may be excluded or limited by agreement between the lessor and the tenant.
(3)A notice of increase of rent that has been given in accordance with this section and that has not been withdrawn by the lessor varies the residential tenancy agreement to the effect that the increased rent specified in the notice is payable under the agreement as from the day specified in the notice.
[Section 30 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 27, 88 and 89.]
31A.Variation of rent where calculated by reference to tenant’s income
(1)Where rent payable under a residential tenancy agreement is calculated by reference to the tenant’s income, the method by which the rent is calculated by reference to that income may be changed by the lessor in accordance with this section but otherwise the rent must not increase or be increased.
(2)The method may be changed by notice in writing to the tenant, in a form approved by the Minister, specifying —
(a)the change to the method; and
(b)the day as from which the change will take effect, being a day —
(i)not less than 60 days after the day on which the notice is given; and
(ii)not less than 6 months after the day on which the tenancy commenced, or, if the means of calculating rent has been changed under this section, the day on which it was last so changed.
[Section 31A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 28.]
31B.Increase in rent after renegotiating lease
(1)Subsection (2) has effect if —
(a)a residential tenancy agreement creates a tenancy for a fixed term (the former agreement); and
(b)the parties enter into a new residential tenancy agreement in relation to the same premises (the new agreement) that is to commence immediately after the end of the term of the former agreement, whether under the terms of the agreement or under section 76C.
(2)The tenant cannot be required under the new agreement to pay an amount of rent, in respect of the first 30 days of the new agreement, that is more than the amount that would have been payable under the former agreement if the former agreement had continued to have effect during that period.
[Section 31B inserted: No. 23 of 2014 s. 88.]
(1)Where the amount of the rent payable under a residential tenancy agreement has been increased under section 30 or 31A, the amount of the security bond payable under the agreement may be increased by the lessor by notice in writing to the tenant specifying the amount of the increase and the day on which it is payable, being a day —
(a)not less than 60 days after the day on which the notice is given; and
(b)not less than 6 months after the day on which the tenancy commenced, or, if the amount of the security bond has been increased under this section, the day on which it was last so increased,
but otherwise the amount of the security bond shall not increase or be increased.
(2)The amount of a security bond may not be increased under this section to an amount that would exceed the aggregate of —
(a)4 weeks’ rent under the residential tenancy agreement at the time at which the amount of the increase would be payable; and
(b)any amount provided for by section 29(1)(b)(ii).
(3)A notice of increase of the amount of a security bond that has been given in accordance with this section and that has not been withdrawn by the lessor varies the residential tenancy agreement to the effect that the amount of the increase specified in the notice is payable under the agreement on the day specified in the notice.
(4)Section 29(4) applies to an amount paid under this section.
[Section 31 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 29 and 89; No. 23 of 2014 s. 89.]
32.Limitation of excessive rents in certain circumstances
(1)A tenant under a residential tenancy agreement may apply to a competent court for an order declaring that the rent payable in respect of the premises is excessive.
(2)An application under subsection (1) must be made not more than 30 days, or any greater period as the court thinks fit having regard to the justice and merits of the case, after —
(a)the tenant has received notice of —
(i)an increase in the rent payable; or
(ii)a change in the method of calculating rent that results in an increase in the rent payable;
or
(b)there has been, without any default on the part of the tenant, a significant reduction in the chattels or facilities provided with the premises.
(3A)An application under subsection (1) may be made despite the fact that the tenant has paid, or agreed to pay, the rent to which the application relates.
(3)The court shall, in determining whether or not the rent payable in respect of the premises is excessive, have regard to —
(a)the general level of rents for comparable premises in the locality or a similar locality; and
(b)the estimated capital value of the premises at the date of the application; and
(c)the amount of the outgoings in respect of the premises required to be borne by the lessor under the agreement; and
(d)the estimated cost of any services provided by the lessor or tenant under the agreement; and
(e)the value and nature of the chattels provided with the premises for use by the tenant; and
(f)the accommodation and amenities provided in the premises and the state of repair and general condition thereof; and
(g)any other relevant matter.
(4)Where a court determines on an application under this section that the rent payable in respect of the premises is excessive, it may, having regard to the justice and merits of the case, order that from a specified day, which may be a day earlier than the date of the application by the tenant, the rent payable in respect of the premises under the residential tenancy agreement shall not exceed a specified amount.
(5)An order made by a court under subsection (4) has effect until the expiration of the tenancy of the person who applied for the order or of such period not exceeding 6 months as is fixed by the court commencing on the day on which the order is made, whichever is the earlier.
(6)A court may, upon application by the lessor of any premises in respect of which an order under this section has been made, if satisfied having regard to the matters set out in subsection (3) that it is just to do so, vary or revoke the order.
(7)A person shall not demand or receive any rent in respect of premises of an amount that exceeds the amount fixed by an order under this section in respect of the premises.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 32 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120 and 121; No. 60 of 2011 s. 30 and 89; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
33.Duty to give receipt for rent
(1)A person who receives any rent under a residential tenancy agreement shall, within 3 days after receiving the rent (not including an “excluded day” as defined in section 61(2) of the Interpretation Act 1984), prepare and give to the person paying the rent a receipt specifying the date on which the rent was received, the name of the person paying the rent, the amount paid, the period of the tenancy in respect of which it is paid, and the premises in respect of which it is paid.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)Subsection (1) does not apply to rent paid under a residential tenancy agreement between the lessor and tenant into an account at an ADI (authorised deposit‑taking institution) as defined in section 5 of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth) nominated by the lessor.
(3)Nothing in subsection (1) shall be read as limiting section 69 of the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978.
[Section 33 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 55; No. 26 of 1999 s. 100(2); No. 60 of 2011 s. 31, 88 and 89; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
Except as otherwise provided in a residential tenancy agreement, a tenant under the agreement may pay rent in the form of cash or a cheque, or in the manner referred to in section 33(2).
[Section 34A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 32.]
34.Proper records of rent to be kept
(1)A lessor shall keep, or cause to be kept, a record in accordance with subsection (2A) showing the rent received in respect of the premises.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2A)The record should specify all of the following —
(a)the fact that the payment is for rent;
(b)the date the rent is received;
(c)the name of the person paying the rent;
(d)the amount paid;
(e)the period in respect of which it is paid;
(f)the premises in respect of which it is paid.
(2)No person shall make in any record referred to in subsection (1) any entry that the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 34 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 55; No. 60 of 2011 s. 33 and 89; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
35.Payment of rent by post‑dated cheques etc. prohibited
No person shall require a post‑dated cheque or other negotiable instrument that is post‑dated in payment of rent.
Penalty: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 35 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 55; No. 60 of 2011 s. 34.]
Rent payable shall accrue from day to day and upon termination be apportioned accordingly, and the appropriate amount shall be payable or recoverable forthwith.
[Heading amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 35.]
[37.Deleted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 36.]
38.Tenant’s responsibility for cleanliness and damage
(1)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the tenant —
(a)shall keep the premises in a reasonable state of cleanliness; and
(b)shall notify the lessor as soon as practicable after any damage to the premises; and
(c)shall not intentionally or negligently cause or permit damage to the premises or, where relevant, a common area or chattels in the common area.
(2)In this section premises includes chattels provided with the premises (whether under the agreement or not) for use by the tenant.
[Section 38 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 37 and 89; No. 25 of 2019 s. 66.]
39.Tenant’s conduct on premises
It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the tenant —
(a)shall not use the premises, or cause or permit the premises to be used, for any illegal purpose; and
(b)shall not cause or permit a nuisance.
[Section 39 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 38.]
(1)In this section —
premises does not include —
(a)any part of the premises in respect of which the tenant does not have a right of exclusive occupation; or
(b)any part of the premises to which the parties to the residential tenancy agreement have agreed the tenant will not have access.
(2)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the tenant must have vacant possession of the premises on the day on which the tenant is entitled to enter into occupation of the premises under the agreement.
[Section 40 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 39.]
41.Legal impediments to occupation as residence
It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement on the part of the lessor that there is not any legal impediment of which, at the time of entering into the agreement, the lessor had or ought reasonably to have had knowledge to occupation of the premises as a residence for the tenancy period.
[Section 41 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 40 and 89; No. 3 of 2019 s. 8.]
42.Lessor’s responsibility for cleanliness and repairs
(1)In this section —
premises includes fixtures and chattels provided with the premises, but does not include —
(a)any fixture or chattel disclosed by the lessor as not functioning before the agreement was entered into; or
(b)any other fixture or chattel that the tenant could not reasonably have expected to be functioning at the time the agreement was entered into.
(2)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the lessor —
(a)must deliver up to the tenant vacant possession of the premises in a reasonable state of cleanliness and a reasonable state of repair having regard to its age and character; and
(b)must maintain the premises in a reasonable state of repair having regard to its age and character and must conduct any repairs within a reasonable period after the need for the repair arises; and
(c)must comply with all requirements in respect of buildings, health and safety under any other written law insofar as they apply to the premises.
[Section 42 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 41.]
(1)In this section —
prescribed period, in relation to the carrying out of urgent repairs, means —
(a)in relation to repairs necessary for the supply or restoration of a service prescribed as an essential service — 24 hours; or
(b)in relation to any other urgent repairs — 48 hours or any prescribed longer period;
suitable repairer, in relation to urgent repairs, means a person who is suitably qualified, trained or, if necessary under any written law, licensed or otherwise authorised, to undertake the work necessary to carry out the repairs;
urgent repairs, in relation to residential premises, means repairs to the premises that are necessary —
(a)for the supply or restoration of a service prescribed as an essential service; or
(b)to avoid —
(i)exposing a person to the risk of injury; or
(ii)exposing property to damage; or
(iii)causing the tenant undue hardship or inconvenience.
(2)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that if a need for urgent repairs arises otherwise than as a result of a breach of the agreement by the tenant —
(a)the tenant is to notify the lessor of the need for those repairs as soon as practicable after the need arises; and
(b)the lessor is to ensure that the repairs are carried out by a suitable repairer as soon as practicable after that notification.
(3)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that if, within the prescribed period after the need for the urgent repairs arises, the tenant is unable to contact the lessor or, having notified the lessor of the need for the repair, the lessor fails to ensure that the repairs are carried out by a suitable repairer as soon as practicable after that notification —
(a)the tenant may arrange for the repairs to be carried out by a suitable repairer to the minimum extent necessary to effect those repairs; and
(b)the lessor must, as soon as practicable after the repairs are carried out, reimburse the tenant for any reasonable expense incurred by the tenant in arranging for those repairs to be carried out and paying for those repairs.
[Section 43 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 41; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 9.]
(1)In this section —
premises includes fixtures and chattels provided with the premises, but does not include —
(a)any fixture or chattel disclosed by the lessor as not functioning before the agreement was entered into; or
(b)any other fixture or chattel that the tenant could not reasonably have expected to be functioning at the time the agreement was entered into.
(2)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement —
(a)that the tenant is to have quiet enjoyment of the premises without interruption by the lessor or any person claiming by, through or under the lessor or having superior title to that of the lessor; and
(b)that the lessor must not cause or permit any interference with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of the tenant in the use by the tenant of the premises; and
(c)that the lessor must take all reasonable steps to enforce the obligation of any other tenant of the lessor in occupation of adjacent premises not to cause or permit any interference with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of the tenant in the use by the tenant of the premises.
[Section 44 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 41.]
(1)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement —
(a)that the lessor must provide and maintain such means to ensure that the residential premises are reasonably secure as are prescribed; and
(b)that any lock or other means of securing the residential premises must not be altered, removed or added by a lessor or tenant without the consent of the other given at, or immediately before, the time that the alteration, removal or addition is carried out; and
(c)that, except as provided in subsection (2), the lessor or the tenant must not unreasonably withhold the consent referred to in paragraph (b).
(2)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement —
(a)that a tenant may alter or add any lock or other means of securing the residential premises —
(i)after the termination of a person’s interest in a residential tenancy agreement under section 60(1)(bc); or
(ii)in any event, if it is necessary to prevent the commission of family violence that the tenant suspects, on reasonable grounds, is likely to be committed against the tenant or a dependant of the tenant;
and
(b)that the tenant must give to the lessor a copy of the key to any lock or other means of securing the residential premises altered or added under paragraph (a) as soon as practicable, and in any event within 7 days, after the lock or other means of securing the residential premises has been altered or added; and
(c)that the lessor must not give a copy of a key referred to in paragraph (b) —
(i)to a person whose interest in the residential tenancy agreement has been terminated under section 60(1)(bc); or
(ii)in any event, to a person who the tenant has instructed the lessor in writing not to give the copy of the key.
(3)A tenant who breaches a term referred to in subsection (2)(b) without reasonable excuse, in addition to any civil liability that the tenant might incur, commits an offence.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(4)Subsection (2)(b) does not apply if the lessor is a person reasonably suspected of being likely to commit the family violence referred to in subsection (2)(a)(ii).
[Section 45 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 41; application modified: Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989 r. 7A; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 10.]
(1)In this section —
lessor, in relation to premises, includes the property manager of the premises acting on behalf of the lessor;
notice means notice in a form approved by the Commissioner;
premises means any part of the premises in respect of which the tenant has a right of exclusive occupation;
reasonable time means —
(a)between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. on a weekday; or
(b)between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. on a Saturday; or
(c)at any other time agreed between the lessor and each tenant.
(2)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the lessor may enter the premises in all or any of the following circumstances but not otherwise —
(a)in any case of emergency;
(b)for conducting routine inspections of the premises or any other purpose, on a day and at a reasonable time, specified by notice in writing given to the tenant —
(i)not less than 7 days before the proposed entry; and
(ii)within 14 days before the proposed entry;
(c)at any reasonable time for the purpose of collecting the rent under the agreement, where it is payable not more frequently than once every week and it is agreed that the rent be collected at the premises;
(d)under section 77(4);
(e)for the purpose of carrying out or inspecting necessary repairs to or maintenance of the premises, at any reasonable time, after giving the tenant not less than 72 hours notice in writing before the proposed entry;
(f)for the purpose of showing the premises to prospective tenants, at any reasonable time and on a reasonable number of occasions during the period of 21 days preceding the termination of the agreement, after giving the tenant reasonable notice in writing;
(g)for the purpose of showing the premises to prospective purchasers, at any reasonable time and on a reasonable number of occasions, after giving the tenant reasonable notice in writing;
(ga)for the purpose of inspecting the premises and assessing any damage after the termination of a tenant’s interest under —
(i)section 60(1)(ba) or (bb); or
(ii)section 60(1)(bc);
(h)with the consent of the tenant given at, or immediately before, the time of entry.
(3)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the lessor may enter the premises under subsection (2)(b) for the purpose of inspecting the premises not more than 4 times in any 12 month period.
(4)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that if it would unduly inconvenience the tenant for the lessor to enter the premises as specified in a notice given under subsection (2), the lessor must make a reasonable attempt to negotiate a day and time for that entry that does not unduly inconvenience the tenant.
(5)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that where a lessor gives a tenant notice of an intention to enter premises on a particular day under subsection (2), the notice must specify —
(a)the day of the entry; and
(b)whether the entry will be before or after 12.00 p.m. on that day.
(6)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that if the lessor exercises a right of entry under subsection (2)(f) or (g) the tenant is entitled to be on the premises during the entry.
(6A)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the lessor may enter the premises under subsection (2)(ga)(i) —
(a)not more than 7 days after receiving notice under section 71AB(1) or 71AD(4); and
(b)not less than 3 days after giving notice to each tenant of the lessor’s intention to enter the premises.
(6B)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the lessor may enter the premises under subsection (2)(ga)(ii) —
(a)not more than 10 days before the hearing of the application under section 71AE; and
(b)not less than 3 days after giving notice to each tenant of the lessor’s intention to enter the premises.
(7)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the lessor exercising a right of entry under this section —
(a)must do so in a reasonable manner; and
(b)must not, without the tenant’s consent, stay or permit others to stay on the premises longer than is necessary to achieve the purpose of the entry.
(8)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the lessor is to compensate the tenant if the lessor or any person accompanying the lessor causes damage to the tenant’s goods on the premises when exercising a right of entry under subsection (2).
[Section 46 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 41; amended: No. 42 of 2016 s. 4; No. 3 of 2019 s. 11.]
47.Right of tenant to affix and remove fixtures etc.
(1A)In this section —
disability means a disability —
(a)which is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory, or physical impairment or a combination of those impairments; and
(b)which is permanent or likely to be permanent; and
(c)which may or may not be of a chronic or episodic nature; and
(d)which results in a substantially reduced capacity of the person for communication, social interaction, learning or mobility.
(1)Except as provided in subsections (2A) and (4), a residential tenancy agreement may provide that the tenant —
(a)shall not affix any fixture or make any renovation, alteration or addition to the premises; or
(b)may affix any fixture or make any renovation, alteration or addition to the premises, but only with the lessor’s consent.
(2)Where a residential tenancy agreement makes the provision described in subsection (1)(b) it is a term of the agreement that —
(a)the lessor shall not unreasonably withhold such consent; and
(b)the tenant may remove any fixture that the tenant has affixed to the premises, with the lessor’s consent, during the period that the tenant has continued in possession of the premises under the agreement, unless the removal of the fixture would cause irreparable damage to the premises; and
(c)where the tenant causes any damage to the premises by removing any fixture, the tenant shall notify the lessor and, at the option of the lessor, repair the damage or compensate the lessor for any reasonable expenses incurred by the lessor in repairing the damage.
(2A)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that —
(a)a tenant may affix either or both of the following items to a wall of premises the subject of the agreement for the purpose of ensuring the safety of a child or a person with a disability, but only with the lessor’s consent —
(i)furniture;
(ii)a thing to affix the furniture to the wall;
and
(b)the lessor may only refuse consent —
(i)if affixing the item to the wall would disturb material containing asbestos; or
(ii)if the premises are entered in the Register of Heritage Places compiled under the Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990 section 46; or
(iii)if the premises is a lot in a scheme under the Strata Titles Act 1985, the by‑laws for the scheme prohibit affixing the item to the wall of the premises; or
(iv)for a prescribed reason;
and
(c)unless the lessor agrees otherwise in writing, the tenant must remove the item from the wall when the tenant vacates the premises and either —
(i)restore the wall to its original condition; or
(ii)compensate the lessor for any reasonable expenses incurred by the lessor in doing that restoration;
and
(d)the cost of affixing the item to the wall, removing it and restoring the wall to its original condition must be borne by the tenant; and
(e)if the tenant causes damage to the premises when affixing or removing the item or restoring the wall to its original condition —
(i)the tenant must notify the lessor in writing that damage has been caused to the premises; and
(ii)the lessor may require the tenant to repair the damage and restore the premises to their original condition or compensate the lessor for the reasonable expenses incurred in doing the repair and restoration.
(2B)The lessor is taken to have consented to affixing the furniture or thing to the wall of the premises under subsection (2A)(a) if, and only if —
(a)the tenant has given the lessor a request, in a form approved by the Commissioner, seeking the lessor’s consent to affix the item to the wall; and
(b)the lessor has not refused consent under subsection (2A)(b) within 14 days after the day on which the lessor receives the request.
(3)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that —
(a)the lessor may affix any fixture or make any renovation, alteration or addition to the premises, but only with the tenant’s consent; and
(b)the tenant must not unreasonably withhold such consent.
(4)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that a tenant may affix any prescribed fixture, or make any prescribed renovation, alteration or addition to the premises (the prescribed alterations), necessary to prevent entry onto the premises of a person —
(a)after the termination of the person’s interest in a residential tenancy agreement under section 60(1)(bc); or
(b)in any event, if it is necessary to prevent the commission of family violence that the tenant suspects, on reasonable grounds, is likely to be committed by the person against the tenant or a dependant of the tenant.
(5)For the purposes of subsection (4) —
(a)the cost of making the prescribed alterations must be borne by the tenant; and
(b)the tenant must give written notice to the lessor of the tenant’s intention to make the prescribed alterations; and
(c)work on the prescribed alterations must be undertaken by a qualified tradesperson, a copy of whose invoice the tenant must provide to the lessor within 14 days of the alterations being completed; and
(d)the prescribed alterations must be effected having regard to the age and character of the property and any applicable strata company by‑laws; and
(e)the tenant must restore the premises to their original condition at the end of the residential tenancy agreement if the lessor requires the tenant to do so and, where restoration work has been undertaken by a tradesperson, must provide to the lessor a copy of that tradesperson’s invoice within 14 days of that work having been performed.
(6)Subsection (4) does not apply to premises entered into the Register as defined in the Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990 section 3(1) or in the register as defined in the Heritage Act 2018 section 4.
[Section 47 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 42, 88 and 89; No. 3 of 2019 s. 12; No. 25 of 2019 s. 67.]
48.Lessor to bear outgoings in respect of premises
(1)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the lessor shall bear all rates, taxes or charges imposed in respect of the premises under any of the following written laws —
(a)the Local Government Act 1995;
(b)the Land Tax Act 2002;
(c)any written law under which a rate, tax or charge is imposed for water supply or sewerage services under the Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984, other than a charge for water consumed.
(2)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that contributions payable to a community corporation under the Community Titles Act 2018 or a strata company under the Strata Titles Act 1985 cannot be passed on to a tenant.
[Section 48 amended: No. 73 of 1995 s. 188; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 45 of 2002 s. 21; No. 60 of 2011 s. 43 and 89; No. 32 of 2018 s. 237.]
49A.Lessor’s and tenant’s responsibilities in respect of public utility services
(1)In this section —
consumption, in relation to a public utility service, means consumption of the utility that is calculated by metered unit;
GST has the meaning given in the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Commonwealth);
public utility services has the meaning given in the Land Administration Act 1997 section 3(1);
strata company has the meaning given in the Strata Titles Act 1985 section 3(1).
(2)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that subsections (3) to (5) are terms of the agreement if —
(a)a public utility service is provided in relation to the premises the subject of the agreement; and
(b)the public utility service is provided under a contract between the provider of the public utility service and the lessor or a strata company.
(3)The tenant must pay a charge for the provision of the service only if —
(a)the charge is for the tenant’s consumption of the utility at the premises; and
(b)either —
(i)the tenant’s consumption of the utility is separately metered; or
(ii)although consumption at the premises is not separately metered, the charge is calculated in accordance with a method previously agreed to in writing by the lessor and the tenant;
and
(c)the lessor gives the tenant a written notice under subsection (4) within 30 days after the lessor receives an invoice for the public utility service.
(4)The notice must be in writing and set out the full details of the account for the charge, including —
(a)the total charge for the tenant’s consumption of the utility; and
(b)if consumption at the premises is metered —
(i)the meter readings; and
(ii)the charge per metered unit;
and
(c)if consumption at the premises is not metered — the charge calculated by the method agreed to under subsection (3)(b)(ii); and
(d)the amount of GST payable in respect of the provision of the service to the premises.
(5)However, despite subsection (3)(c), if the tenancy ends within 30 days after the lessor receives an invoice for the public utility service, or the lessor receives the invoice after the tenancy has ended, the lessor —
(a)is not required to give the written notice under subsection (4) within 30 days after the lessor receives the invoice; and
(b)may give the notice to the tenant (or former tenant) as soon as practicable after the lessor receives the notice and locates the tenant.
[Section 49A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 44; amended: No. 25 of 2019 s. 68.]
49.Right of tenant to assign or sub‑let
(1)A residential tenancy agreement may provide that the tenant —
(a)may assign the tenant’s interest under the agreement or sub‑let the premises; or
(b)shall not assign the tenant’s interest under the agreement or sub‑let the premises; or
(c)may assign the tenant’s interest under the agreement or sub‑let the premises only with the written consent of the lessor.
(2)Where a residential tenancy agreement makes or is deemed to make the provision described in subsection (1)(c), it is a term of the agreement —
(a)that the lessor shall not unreasonably withhold such consent; and
(b)that the lessor shall not make any charge for giving such consent other than the lessor’s reasonable expenses incidental thereto.
(3)Where a residential tenancy agreement does not make any of the provisions described in subsection (1), the agreement shall be deemed to contain the provision described in subsection (1)(c).
[Section 49 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 45, 88 and 89.]
50.Vicarious responsibility of tenant for breach by other person lawfully on premises
(1)It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that, where a person other than the tenant is lawfully on the premises, the tenant is vicariously responsible for any act or omission by that person that would, if it had been an act or omission by the tenant, have constituted a breach of the agreement.
(2)Subsection (1) does not extend to a person who is lawfully on the premises and whose authority to be on the premises does not derive from the permission, express or implied, of the tenant.
[Section 50 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 46.]
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 47.]
51.Tenant to be notified of lessor’s name and address
(1)Unless subsection (2) applies, at the time of entering into a residential tenancy agreement the lessor must notify the tenant, or cause the tenant to be notified, in writing of —
(a)if the lessor is an individual — the full name and address of —
(i)the lessor; and
(ii)any person having superior title to that of the lessor;
or
(b)if the lessor is a body corporate — the full name and business address of the secretary of the body corporate.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)If residential premises that are the subject of a residential tenancy agreement are managed by a property manager, the lessor and the property manager must, at the time of entering into the agreement, notify the tenant, or cause the tenant to be notified, in writing of —
(a)the full name of the lessor; and
(b)the full name and address of the property manager.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(3)Where a person succeeds another person as the lessor under a residential tenancy agreement, the new lessor must, within 14 days after the succession, notify the tenant, or cause the tenant to be notified, in writing of —
(a)the full name and address of the new lessor; and
(b)where the new lessor is a body corporate, the full name and business address of the secretary of the body corporate.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(4)Where any name or address of which the lessor is required to notify the tenant under this section is changed, the lessor must, within 14 days after the change, notify the tenant, or cause the tenant to be notified, in writing of the changed name or address.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 51 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 48; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
52.Failure to pay rent with intention it be recovered from security bond
A tenant shall not fail or refuse to pay any rent due under a residential tenancy agreement with the intention that the amount of such rent be recovered by the lessor from the security bond paid by the tenant.
Penalty: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 52 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 55; No. 60 of 2011 s. 49, 88 and 89.]
53.Tenant’s name, place of employment and forwarding address
(1)A tenant under a residential tenancy agreement must not falsely state to the lessor the tenant’s name or place of employment.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)Where a tenant has stated a place of employment to the lessor and that place is changed, the tenant must, within 14 days after the change, notify the lessor, or cause the lessor to be notified, in writing of the new place of employment.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(3)A tenant under a residential tenancy agreement must, at the time of delivering up possession of the premises to which the agreement relates, notify the lessor, or cause the lessor to be notified, in writing of —
(a)the address at which the tenant intends to next reside; or
(b)the tenant’s postal address.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 53 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 50; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
54.Lessor to deliver copy of agreement to tenant
(1)A lessor or a property manager of residential premises who has required or invited a tenant to sign a written residential tenancy agreement or memorandum thereof shall —
(a)provide the tenant with a copy of the document at the time at which it is signed by the tenant; and
(b)ensure that a fully executed copy of the document is delivered to the tenant within 14 days after it has been signed and delivered by the tenant, or, where that is not reasonably practicable in the circumstances, within such longer period as is so practicable.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)If a lessor or a property manager of residential premises fails to execute and deliver a copy of the document in accordance with subsection (1)(b), acceptance of rent by the lessor or property manager without reservation shall give to the document the same effect as if it had been fully executed.
[Section 54 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 55; No. 60 of 2011 s. 51; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
55.Cost of written agreement to be borne by lessor
Where a lessor requires the execution of a written residential tenancy agreement or a memorandum of a residential tenancy agreement, the cost of its preparation must be borne by the lessor.
[Section 55 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 52.]
56.Discrimination against tenants with children
(1)A person shall not refuse, or cause any person to refuse, to grant a tenancy to any person on the ground that it is intended that a child should live in the premises.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)A person shall not —
(a)instruct any person not to grant; or
(b)state the person’s intention, whether by advertisement or otherwise, not to grant,
a tenancy to any person on the ground that it is intended that a child should live in the premises.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 56 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 55; No. 60 of 2011 s. 53; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
56A.Discrimination against tenants subjected or exposed to family violence
A person must not refuse, or cause any person to refuse, to grant a tenancy to any person on the ground that the person —
(a)has been or might be subjected or exposed to family violence; or
(b)has been convicted of a charge relating to family violence.
Penalty: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 56A inserted: No. 3 of 2019 s. 13.]
57.Accelerated rent and liquidated damages prohibited
(1)Where a residential tenancy agreement provides that, upon breach by the tenant of the agreement to pay rent or any other term of the agreement or breach of this Act or any other written law, the tenant is liable to pay —
(a)all or any part of the rent remaining payable under the agreement; or
(b)rent of an increased amount; or
(c)any amount by way of a penalty; or
(d)any amount by way of liquidated damages,
the provision is to that extent void and of no effect.
(2A)A lessor or property manager who executes a residential tenancy agreement with a provision of the kind referred to in subsection (1) commits an offence.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)Where a residential tenancy agreement provides that, if the tenant does not breach the agreement to pay rent or any other term of the agreement or any provision of this Act or any other written law, the rent shall or may be decreased or the tenant shall or may be granted or paid a rebate, refund or other benefit, the agreement shall be deemed to have been varied from the commencement of the tenancy so that the tenant is entitled to the reduction, rebate, refund or other benefit in any event.
[Section 57 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 54 and 88; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
The rules under the law of contract relating to mitigation of loss or damage upon breach of a contract apply to and in relation to a breach of a residential tenancy agreement.
[Section 58 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 55.]
(1)In this section —
minor means a person who has reached 16 years of age but who has not reached 18 years of age.
(2)Despite any other law in force in this State —
(a)a minor has the capacity to enter into a residential tenancy agreement as a tenant; and
(b)a residential tenancy agreement may be enforced in accordance with this Act against a minor who is a tenant.
[Section 59A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 56.]
59B.Death of one of 2 or more tenants
(1)This section applies if —
(a)2 or more tenants are parties to a residential tenancy agreement; and
(b)the tenants are not joint tenants under the agreement; and
(c)one of the tenants dies.
(2)On the death of the tenant —
(a)the deceased tenant’s interest in the tenancy ends; and
(b)the agreement continues in force with the parties to the agreement being the lessor and the surviving tenant or tenants.
(3)Subsection (2) does not affect, as between the deceased tenant and the surviving tenant or tenants, any right (including, in particular, a right relating to a security bond) or liability of the deceased tenant existing immediately before the deceased tenant’s death.
[Section 59B inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 56.]
59C.Recognition of certain persons as tenants
(1)A person who is not a tenant but who is occupying residential premises to which a residential tenancy agreement applies may apply to a competent court to be recognised as a tenant under the agreement or to be joined as a party to any proceedings before the court relating to the premises, or both.
(2)An application by a person to be recognised as a tenant may be made at the same time as any other application or during proceedings before the court or independently of any such other application or proceedings.
(3)On application by a person under this section the court may make either or both of the following orders —
(a)an order recognising the person as a tenant under a residential tenancy agreement and in that case the person is to be taken, for the purposes of this or any other Act and of the agreement, to be a tenant under the agreement;
(b)an order joining the person as a party to proceedings.
(4)In making an order referred to in subsection (3)(a) the court may order that the tenancy be continued on such of the terms and conditions of the residential tenancy agreement as it thinks are appropriate having regard to the circumstances of the case.
[Section 59C inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 56.]
(1)In this section —
tenant compensation order means an order under section 15(2)(b) in relation to a failure by a lessor to reimburse a tenant for reasonable expenses incurred by the tenant in arranging for urgent repairs to be carried out, and paying for those repairs, in accordance with section 43.
(2)A court that makes a tenant compensation order against a lessor may make a further order requiring the lessor to pay to the bond administrator a tenant compensation bond to cover any future tenant compensation orders that might be made against the lessor in respect of —
(a)a particular tenant or particular residential premises of the lessor; or
(b)any tenant or residential premises of the lessor.
(3)The tenant compensation bond is to be an amount determined by the court.
(4)The lessor may apply to the court for an order that the whole or part of a tenant compensation bond is to be paid back to the lessor.
(5)The court may make the order referred to in subsection (4) if it is satisfied that it is appropriate in the circumstances to do so.
(6)The bond administrator must pay the amount of the tenant compensation bond in accordance with —
(a)Schedule 1 clause 10; or
(b)an order under subsection (5) and Schedule 1 clause 11.
[Section 59D inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 56.]
59E.Interference with quiet enjoyment
(1)A lessor who causes or permits interference with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of the tenant in the tenant’s use of the premises commits an offence.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $10 000.
(2)The liability of a person in civil proceedings is not affected by the commencement of proceedings against the person for an offence under subsection (1) or the conviction of the person in proceedings for the offence.
(3)When a charge of an offence under subsection (1) relates to a failure by the lessor to give the tenant a copy of a key to the premises, it is a defence to the charge to prove that —
(a)the copy of the key had been given to the lessor under section 45(2)(b); and
(b)the tenant was a person to whom the lessor was instructed not to give the copy of the key under section 45(2)(c)(ii).
[Section 59E inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 56; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 14 and 25.]
59F.Offences relating to security of residential premises
(1)A lessor or tenant who breaches the term referred to in section 45(1)(b) without reasonable excuse commits an offence.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $20 000.
(2)A property manager of residential premises who, without reasonable excuse alters, removes or adds a lock or other means of securing the residential premises without the consent of the tenant given at, or immediately before, the time that the alteration, removal or addition is carried out, in addition to any civil liability that the property manager might incur, commits an offence.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $20 000.
(2A)A lessor who breaches the term referred to in section 45(2)(c) without reasonable excuse commits an offence.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $20 000.
(3)The liability of a person in civil proceedings is not affected by the commencement of proceedings against the person for an offence under this section or the conviction of the person in proceedings for the offence.
[Section 59F inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 56; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 15 and 25.]
Part V — Termination of residential tenancy agreements
Division 1 — How residential tenancy agreements are terminated
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 57.]
[59.Deleted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 58.]
60.How residential tenancy agreements and tenant’s interests in agreements are terminated
(1)Despite any Act or law to the contrary, a residential tenancy agreement shall not terminate or be terminated except in one of the following circumstances —
(a)where the lessor or tenant gives notice of termination under this Act and —
(i)the tenant delivers up vacant possession of the premises on or after the expiration of the period of notice required under this Act; or
(ii)a competent court, upon application by the lessor, terminates the agreement under section 71;
(b)in the case of a tenancy for a fixed term, where the lessor or tenant gives a notice of termination under section 70A and —
(i)the tenant delivers up possession of the premises on or after the day on which the term of the agreement expires in accordance with that section; or
(ii)a competent court, upon application by the lessor, terminates the agreement under section 72;
(ba)in the case of a particular tenant’s interest in the agreement, where the tenant —
(i)gives notice under section 71AB(1) of termination of the tenant’s interest together with at least 1 of the documents required under section 71AB(2); and
(ii)vacates the premises on or after the expiration of the period of notice required under section 71AB(5);
(bb)in the case of a particular tenant’s interest in the agreement, where the tenant —
(i)gives notice under section 71AD(4) of termination of the tenant’s interest; and
(ii)vacates the premises on or after the expiration of the period of notice required under section 71AD(5);
(bc)in the case of a particular tenant’s interest in the agreement, where a competent court terminates the tenant’s interest under section 71AE;
(c)where a competent court terminates the agreement under section 73, 74, 75A or 75;
(d)where a person having superior title to that of the lessor becomes entitled to possession of the premises;
(e)where a mortgagee in respect of the premises takes possession of the premises in pursuance of the mortgage;
(f)where the tenant abandons the premises;
(g)where the tenant delivers up vacant possession of the premises pursuant to an agreement in writing between the lessor and the tenant to terminate the residential tenancy agreement;
(h)where the agreement terminates by merger;
(i)where every tenant dies.
(2)The termination of a tenant’s interest in a residential tenancy agreement does not terminate the agreement in respect of any other tenant under the agreement.
[Section 60 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 1995 s. 49; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(1); No. 60 of 2011 s. 59, 88, 89 and 91; No. 3 of 2019 s. 16.]
Division 2 — Notices of termination
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 60.]
61.Form of notice of termination by lessor
Notice of termination of a residential tenancy agreement by the lessor must —
(a)be in writing and in the prescribed form; and
(b)be signed by the lessor or a property manager of the residential premises; and
(c)identify the premises the subject of the agreement; and
(d)specify the day on which possession of the premises is to be delivered up by the tenant; and
(e)specify and give particulars of the ground, if any, upon which the notice is given.
[Section 61 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 61.]
62.Notice of termination by lessor upon ground of breach of term of agreement
(1)A lessor may give notice of termination of a residential tenancy agreement to the tenant upon the ground that the tenant has breached a term of the agreement and the breach has not been remedied.
(2)Where a lessor gives notice of termination under this section, the period of notice shall be not less than 7 days before the day on which the tenant is required under the notice to give the lessor possession of the premises.
(3)Where notice of termination is given under this section upon the ground of a breach of the agreement other than the agreement to pay rent, the notice is ineffectual unless a notice specifying the breach and requiring that it be remedied is given to the tenant not less than 14 days before the notice of termination is given.
(4)Where notice of termination is given under this section upon the ground of a breach of the agreement to pay rent —
(a)the notice is ineffectual unless a notice specifying the breach of the agreement and requiring payment of the rent is given to the tenant not less than 14 days before the notice of termination is given; and
(b)the notice is not rendered ineffectual by failure by the lessor to make a prior formal demand for payment of the rent.
(5)Despite subsection (4)(a), notice of termination upon the ground of a breach of the agreement to pay rent may be given immediately the breach occurs but where notice is so given —
(a)the lessor shall not make an application under section 71 if the rent due under the agreement is paid in full before the day specified in the notice as the day on which the tenant is to deliver up possession of the premises; and
(b)the lessor shall not continue proceedings in respect of an application under section 71 if —
(i)the rent due under the agreement; and
(ii)the amount of any fee paid by the lessor under section 18(1),
are paid in full to the lessor not less than one day before the hearing of application; and
(c)the hearing of an application under section 71 shall take place not less than 21 days after notice is given.
(5a)Where an application is made, or proceedings in respect of an application are continued, in contravention of subsection (5), any order made under section 71(2) in respect of the application is of no effect.
(6)Where notice of termination is given under this section in respect of a residential tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term, the notice is not ineffectual by reason of the fact that the day specified as the day on which the tenant is to deliver up possession of the premises is earlier than the last day of that term.
(7)Failure by a tenant under a residential tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term to deliver up vacant possession of the premises at the expiration of the term does not constitute a breach of the agreement.
[Section 62 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 50; No. 60 of 2011 s. 62, 88 and 89.]
63.Notice of termination by lessor who has entered into contract of sale
(1)A lessor may give notice of termination of a residential tenancy agreement to the tenant on the ground that the lessor has entered into a contract for the sale of the premises to which the agreement relates and under that contract the lessor is required to give vacant possession of the premises.
(2)Where a lessor gives notice of termination under subsection (1) the period of notice must be not less than 30 days before the day on which the tenant is required under the notice to give to the lessor possession of the premises.
(3)A lessor, or a property manager acting on behalf of the lessor, must not give notice of termination under this section that the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $10 000.
(4)This section does not apply to a residential tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term during the currency of that term.
[Section 63 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 63; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
64.Notice of termination by lessor without any ground
(1)A lessor may give notice of termination of a residential tenancy agreement to the tenant without specifying any ground for the notice.
(2)Where a lessor gives notice of termination under this section, the period of notice must be not less than 60 days before the day on which the tenant is required under the notice to give to the lessor possession of the premises.
(3)A tenant may, within 7 days after receiving a notice of termination under this section, apply to a competent court for an order —
(a)that the period of notice be extended by a further period of up to 60 days; or
(b)if the tenant is of the opinion that the grounds set out in section 71(3)(b)(i) apply — that the residential tenancy agreement is not terminated as a consequence of the notice.
(4)On an application under subsection (3) the court may, as it thinks fit having regard to the justice and merits of the case —
(a)extend the period of notice for a further period of up to 60 days and make such other orders as to compensation of the lessor for any loss caused by the extension or as to any other matter that it considers is, in the circumstances of the case, appropriate; or
(b)make an order that the residential tenancy agreement is not terminated as a consequence of the notice; or
(c)make an order referred to in section 71(2) and in that case the court must specify the day as from which the order for possession operates, being a day that is the later of —
(i)a day not less than 60 days after the day on which the notice of termination was received; or
(ii)a day within 7 days after the day on which the order was made.
(5)This section does not apply in relation to a residential tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term during the currency of that term.
[Section 64 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 63.]
65.Termination by lessor where s. 32 invoked
(1)Where proceedings are pending for an order, or an order is in force, under section 32 fixing the maximum rent in respect of premises the subject of a residential tenancy agreement —
(a)any notice of termination of the agreement given by the lessor under section 64 is ineffectual; and
(b)any other notice of termination of the agreement given by the lessor is ineffectual unless first authorised by a competent court under subsection (2).
(2)A competent court may, upon application by a lessor, authorise the lessor to give notice of termination, if it is satisfied that neither the institution of the proceedings for the order nor the making of the order has wholly or partly motivated the lessor to give notice of termination.
[Section 65 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(1) and (2); No. 60 of 2011 s. 64 and 89.]
66.Notice by lessor not waived by acceptance of rent
A demand for, any proceeding for the recovery of, or acceptance of, rent by a lessor after the lessor has notice of a breach of the agreement by the tenant or has given the tenant notice of termination under this Act does not operate as a waiver of that breach or that notice.
[Section 66 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 65 and 89.]
67.Form of notice of termination by tenant
(1)Except as provided in subsection (2), a notice of termination of a residential tenancy agreement, or of the tenant’s interest in the agreement, must —
(a)be in writing; and
(b)be signed by the tenant and identify the premises the subject of the agreement; and
(c)specify the day on which the tenant will deliver up possession of the premises.
(2)A notice given under section 71AB(1) must be in a prescribed form.
[Section 67 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 88; No. 3 of 2019 s. 17.]
68.Notice of termination by tenant
(1)A tenant may give notice of termination of a residential tenancy agreement to the lessor without specifying any ground for the notice.
(2)Where a tenant gives notice of termination under this section, the period of notice must be not less than 21 days before the termination day.
(3)This section does not apply in relation to a residential tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term during the currency of that term.
[Section 68 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 66, 88 and 89.]
69.Notice of termination by lessor or tenant where agreement frustrated
(1)Where, otherwise than as a result of a breach of a residential tenancy agreement, the premises, or a part of the premises, the subject of that agreement are destroyed or rendered uninhabitable or cease to be lawfully usable as a residence or are appropriated or acquired by any authority by compulsory process —
(a)the rent shall abate accordingly; and
(b)the lessor or tenant may give notice of termination of the agreement to the other upon that ground.
(2)Where a lessor gives notice of termination under this section, the period of notice shall be not less than 7 days before the termination day.
(3)Where a tenant gives notice of termination under this section, the period of notice shall be not less than 2 days before the termination day.
(4)Where notice of termination is given under this section in respect of a residential tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term, the notice is not ineffectual by reason of the fact that the day specified as the day on which the tenant is to, or will, deliver up possession of the premises is earlier than the last day of that term.
[Section 69 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 67, 88 and 89.]
70A.Notice of termination by lessor or tenant at end of fixed term tenancy
(1)In this section —
agreement means a residential tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term;
notice means a notice of termination referred to in subsection (2);
possession day means the day specified in a notice as the day on which possession of the premises is to be delivered up by the tenant and has the meaning affected by subsection (6).
(2)Despite any other written law or a requirement under a contract, the term of a residential tenancy agreement does not end on the expiry day unless the lessor or tenant has given a notice of termination of the agreement to the other party specifying a day on which possession of the residential premises is to be delivered up by the tenant.
(3)The notice must be given not later than 30 days before the possession day.
(4)The possession day must not be a day earlier than the expiry day.
(5)If the possession day is later than the expiry day, then —
(a)the term of the agreement expires on the possession day, and not on the expiry day; and
(b)the terms of the agreement are to be taken, for all purposes, to be varied to that extent.
(6)If both the lessor and tenant give a notice to each other and the notices specify different possession days, then the day that is the earlier of the 2 days is to be taken to be the possession day.
(7)If —
(a)the day on which the term of the agreement is to expire under subsection (5)(a) is the possession day under a notice given by the lessor; and
(b)the tenant delivers up possession of the premises after the expiry day but before the possession day,
then the day on which the tenant delivers up possession of the premises is to be taken to be the possession day for the purposes of subsection (5).
[Section 70A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 68.]
70.Effect of notice of termination of periodic tenancy
Notice of termination of a residential tenancy agreement that creates a periodic tenancy is not ineffectual by reason of the fact —
(a)that the period of the notice, being not less than the period required under this Act, is less than that which would otherwise have been required at law; or
(b)that the day specified as the day on which the tenant is to, or will, deliver up possession of the premises is not the last day of a period of the tenancy.
[Section 70 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 88.]
Division 2A — Special provisions about terminating tenant’s interest on grounds of family violence
[Heading inserted: No. 3 of 2019 s. 18.]
In this Division —
DVO has the meaning given under the Domestic Violence Orders (National Recognition) Act 2017 section 4(1);
Family Court injunction means an injunction under the Family Court Act 1997 section 235 or 235A or the Family Law Act 1975 (Commonwealth) section 68B or 114;
premises, in relation to a residential tenancy agreement, means the residential premises to which the agreement relates.
[Section 71AA inserted: No. 3 of 2019 s. 18.]
71AB.Notice of termination of tenant’s interest on ground that tenant subject to family violence
(1)Despite any other provision of this Act or another written law or a requirement under a contract, a tenant may give to the lessor notice of termination of the tenant’s interest in the residential tenancy agreement on the ground that the tenant or a dependant of the tenant is, during the tenancy period, likely to be subjected or exposed to family violence.
(2)A notice under this section must be accompanied by a document, applicable during the tenancy period, comprising 1 of the following —
(a)a DVO;
(b)a Family Court injunction or an application for a Family Court injunction;
(c)a copy of a prosecution notice or indictment containing a charge relating to violence against the tenant or a court record of a conviction of the charge;
(d)a report of family violence, in a form approved by the Commissioner, completed by a person who has worked with the tenant and is 1 of the following —
(i)a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) in the medical profession;
(ii)a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Western Australia) in the psychology profession;
(iii)a social worker as defined in the Mental Health Act 2014 section 4;
(iv)a police officer;
(v)a person in charge of a women’s refuge;
(vi)a prescribed person or class of persons.
(3)The lessor must not disclose information in a document provided to the lessor under subsection (2) to another person except in accordance with this Act or another written law.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(4)The lessor must ensure that information provided to the lessor under subsection (2) is kept in a secure manner so far as it is reasonably practicable to do so.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(5)If a tenant gives notice under this section, the period of notice must be not less than 7 days before the termination day.
[Section 71AB inserted: No. 3 of 2019 s. 18.]
71AC.Review of notice of termination under s. 71AB
(1)In this section —
terminating tenant means a tenant who has given, or purportedly given, notice of termination under section 71AB.
(2)A lessor may, within 7 days after receiving a notice under section 71AB, apply to a competent court to review whether notice was validly given under that section.
(3)In its review, the court —
(a)must examine whether the terminating tenant has complied with section 71AB in giving the notice; and
(b)cannot examine whether the terminating tenant, or a dependant of the tenant, has been or might be subject to family violence.
(4)If the court finds that notice was not validly given under section 71AB, the court must make an order declaring that the terminating tenant’s interest in the residential tenancy agreement has not been terminated, otherwise the court must dismiss the application.
[Section 71AC inserted: No. 3 of 2019 s. 18.]
71AD.Rights of co‑tenants after notice under s. 71AB
(1)In this section —
co‑tenant, in relation to a notice under section 71AB(1), does not include the tenant who gave the notice.
(2)A lessor must give a copy of a notice received by the lessor under section 71AB(1) to each co‑tenant under the residential tenancy agreement within 7 days after receiving the notice.
(3)Nothing in subsection (2) requires or permits the lessor to give a copy of a document provided under section 71AB(2) to a co‑tenant.
(4)The co‑tenant may, within 7 days after receiving the copy of the notice, give notice of termination of the co‑tenant’s interest in the residential tenancy agreement to the lessor.
(5)If a co‑tenant gives notice of termination under subsection (4), the period of notice must be not less than 21 days before the termination day.
[Section 71AD inserted: No. 3 of 2019 s. 18.]
71AE.Termination of tenant’s interest by court on grounds of family violence
(1)In this section —
excluded tenant means a tenant against whom an order is sought or made under subsection (2);
family violence order means a DVO, Family Court injunction or other court order denying a tenant’s right of occupancy in premises under a residential tenancy agreement;
protected tenant means a tenant for whose benefit an order is sought or made under subsection (2).
(2)Despite any other provision of this Act or another written law, or a requirement under a contract, a court may make an order terminating a tenant’s interest in a residential tenancy agreement if it is satisfied —
(a)that a family violence order is in force against the excluded tenant; or
(b)that the excluded tenant has, during the tenancy period, committed family violence against the protected tenant or a dependant of the protected tenant.
(3)The court may make the order on an application by any of the following —
(a)the excluded tenant;
(b)a protected tenant;
(c)a prescribed person acting on behalf of the protected tenant.
(4)Before making the order the court must consider the following matters —
(a)the best interests of any child ordinarily resident at the premises;
(b)the best interests of the protected tenant, including, if the premises under the residential tenancy agreement are social housing premises, the ability of the tenant to meet any eligibility criteria for those premises;
(c)the effect the order might have on the lessor and any tenants other than the protected tenant;
(d)the effect the order might have on any pets kept on the premises;
(e)the fact that perpetrators of family violence might seek to misuse the protections offered to tenants and lessors under this Act to further their violence and the need to prevent that misuse.
(5)The court is to have regard to the matter set out in subsection (4)(a) as being of primary importance.
(6)The order takes effect on a day specified in the order, being a day that is not less than 7 days and not more than 30 days after the order is made.
(7)The court may make the order in proceedings under this Act or the Act under which the family violence order is made.
[Section 71AE inserted: No. 3 of 2019 s. 18.]
(1)The Minister must carry out a review of the operation and effectiveness of this Division, and prepare a report based on the review, as soon as practicable after the 3rd anniversary of the day on which this Division comes into operation.
(2)Without limiting the scope of the review, the review must address the following —
(a)the effect of this Division on lessors’ rights to recover debts owed by tenants;
(b)the effect of this Division on lessors’ insurance policies;
(c)the effect of this Division on contractual certainty;
(d)the extent to which this Division affects contractual obligations upon lessors and co‑tenants who are not perpetrators of family violence and the impact of those obligations;
(e)such other matters as appear to the Minister to be relevant.
(3)The Minister must cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as practicable after it is prepared, but not later than 12 months after the 3rd anniversary.
[Section 71AF inserted: No. 3 of 2019 s. 18.]
Division 3 — Special provisions about terminating social housing tenancy agreements
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
In this Division —
criteria means the criteria approved under section 71E;
Housing Authority means the Housing Authority referred to in the Housing Act 1980 section 6(4);
Minister for Housing means the Minister to whom the administration of the Housing Act 1980 is committed;
social housing premises means residential premises let by a social housing provider under a social housing tenancy agreement, but does not include any premises that are excluded by regulation from the ambit of this definition;
social housing provider means any of the following —
(a)the Housing Authority;
(b)a body or person prescribed, or of a class prescribed, for the purposes of this definition;
social housing tenancy agreement means a residential tenancy agreement in respect of social housing premises, but does not include any agreement that is excluded by regulation from the ambit of this definition.
[Section 71A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
This Division does not limit the operation of the other provisions of this Part in relation to residential tenancy agreements that are social housing tenancy agreements.
[Section 71B inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
Subdivision 2 — Notice of termination where tenant not eligible for social housing premises
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
71C.Notice of termination by lessor on ground that tenant not eligible for social housing premises
A lessor under a social housing tenancy agreement may give notice of termination of the agreement to the tenant on the ground that the lessor has determined, as the result of an assessment carried out under section 71D, that the tenant is not eligible to reside in social housing premises, or to reside in the class of social housing premises to which the agreement relates.
[Section 71C inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
71D.Assessment of tenants eligibility for social housing premises
(1)In carrying out an assessment of the eligibility of a tenant under a social housing tenancy agreement (the agreement) to reside in social housing premises, or to reside in the class of social housing premises to which the agreement relates, the lessor is to apply the criteria approved under section 71E for the purposes of this Subdivision.
(2)The lessor may request the tenant to provide any information that is reasonably required to enable the lessor to determine whether the tenant meets the criteria for the purposes of an assessment under this section.
(3)If the tenant refuses to provide any such information to the lessor, the lessor may determine, without further inquiry, that the tenant is not eligible to reside in social housing premises, or to reside in the class of social housing premises to which the agreement relates.
(4)In the case of a social housing tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term, an assessment under this section may not be carried out prior to 6 months before the end of the term.
[Section 71D inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
71E.Criteria for assessing eligibility of tenants for social housing premises under s. 71D
(1)The Minister for Housing is to approve criteria for the purposes of this Subdivision.
(2)The criteria may differ from the criteria used to assess a person’s eligibility to commence residing in social housing premises, or in a particular class of social housing premises.
(3)The criteria must not relate to whether or not a tenant has complied with any term of a residential tenancy agreement.
(4)The criteria must be made publicly available.
(5)A copy of the criteria must be provided, on request, to any tenant under a social housing tenancy agreement free of charge and to other persons either free of charge or on payment of the reasonable cost incurred in copying the criteria.
[Section 71E inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
71F.Review of decision to give notice on ground that tenant not eligible for social housing premises
(1)Before giving notice of termination of a social housing tenancy agreement to a tenant on the ground referred to in section 71C, the lessor must advise the tenant of the decision to do so by notice in writing.
(2)A notice given under this section must —
(a)contain particulars of the reasons why the tenant is no longer considered eligible to reside in the premises; and
(b)state that the tenant may apply to the lessor for a review of the decision within 30 days after the notice is given and give particulars of how such an application may be made; and
(c)state that the tenant is entitled to make representations to the lessor in writing, or (if the tenant wishes) orally, as to why the agreement should not be terminated.
(3)The tenant may, in accordance with the notice —
(a)apply to the lessor for a review of the decision; and
(b)make representations in writing, or (if the tenant wishes) orally, to the lessor as to why the agreement should not be terminated.
(4)If the tenant applies to the lessor for a review under this section, the lessor must review the decision, in accordance with any procedures approved by the Minister for Housing for the purposes of this section, and consider any representations made by the tenant.
(5)After the review is carried out, the lessor may —
(a)give notice of termination of the agreement on the ground referred to in section 71C; or
(b)advise the tenant, by notice in writing, that the lessor has decided not to give notice of termination of the agreement.
[Section 71F inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
71G.Time periods to be observed where notice of termination given under this Subdivision
(1)A notice of termination of a social housing tenancy agreement cannot be given to a tenant on the ground referred to in section 71C before the later of the following —
(a)the end of the 30 day period within which the tenant may apply for a review under section 71F of the decision to give notice of termination;
(b)the end of any such review carried out in respect of that decision.
(2)The notice of termination cannot specify as the day on which vacant possession of the premises is to be delivered up to the lessor a day that is earlier than —
(a)in the case of a social housing tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term, 60 days after the day on which the notice is given or the day the term of the agreement ends, whichever is the later; or
(b)in any other case, 60 days after the day on which the notice of termination is given.
[Section 71G inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
Subdivision 3 — Notice of termination where tenant offered alternative social housing premises
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
71H.Notice of termination by lessor where tenant offered alternative social housing premises
A lessor under a social housing tenancy agreement may give notice of termination of the agreement (the existing agreement) to the tenant on the ground that the lessor has offered to enter into a new social housing tenancy agreement with the tenant in respect of alternative premises to the premises the subject of the existing agreement.
[Section 71H inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
71I.Review of decision to give notice on ground that tenant offered alternative social housing premises
(1)Before giving notice of termination of a social housing tenancy agreement to a tenant on the ground referred to in section 71H, the lessor must advise the tenant of the decision to do so by notice in writing.
(2)The lessor may make the offer to enter into a new social housing tenancy agreement and give notice of the decision at the same time.
(3)A notice given under this section must —
(a)contain particulars of the reasons why the lessor wishes the tenant to move to alternative premises; and
(b)state that the tenant may apply to the lessor for a review of the decision within 30 days after the notice is given and give particulars of how such an application may be made; and
(c)state that the tenant is entitled to make representations to the lessor in writing, or (if the tenant wishes) orally, as to why the existing agreement should not be terminated.
(4)The tenant may, in accordance with the notice —
(a)apply to the lessor for a review of the decision; and
(b)make representations in writing, or (if the tenant wishes) orally, to the lessor as to why the existing agreement should not be terminated.
(5)If the tenant applies to the lessor for a review under this section, the lessor must review the decision, in accordance with any procedures approved by the Minister for Housing for the purposes of this section, and consider any representations made by the tenant.
(6)After the review is carried out, the lessor may —
(a)give notice of termination of the existing agreement on the ground referred to in section 71H; or
(b)advise the tenant, by notice in writing, that the lessor has decided not to give notice of termination of the existing agreement; or
(c)make a new offer to the tenant to enter into a new social housing tenancy agreement in respect of alternative premises that differ from those the subject of the offer in respect of which the review was carried out.
(7)If a new offer is made under subsection (6)(c), subsections (1) to (6) apply in relation to giving notice of termination in connection with the new offer.
(8)If the situation referred to in subsection (7) applies, the lessor is required to give a second notice, and the tenant is entitled to a second review, under this section, however, the lessor is not required to give any further notice, and the tenant is not entitled to any further review, under this section in relation to giving notice of termination following a second review.
[Section 71I inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
71J.Time periods to be observed where notice of termination given under this Subdivision
(1)A notice of termination of a social housing tenancy agreement cannot be given to a tenant on the ground referred to in section 71H before the later of the following —
(a)the end of the 30 day period within which the tenant may apply for any review under section 71I of the decision to give the notice of termination;
(b)the end of any such review carried out in respect of that decision.
(2)Despite subsection (1), if the lessor and tenant enter into a new social housing tenancy agreement before the end of that 30 day period or any such review, the notice of termination may be given on or after the day on which they enter into the new agreement.
(3)The notice of termination cannot specify a day earlier than 60 days after the day on which the notice is given as the day on which vacant possession of the premises the subject of the existing agreement is to be delivered up to the lessor, unless it specifies an earlier day to which the tenant has consented.
(4)The notice of termination is ineffective unless the alternative premises in connection with which the notice of termination is given are available for occupation no later than 7 days before the date specified in the notice as the day on which vacant possession is to be delivered up to the lessor.
(5)In the case of a social housing tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term, the notice of termination is not ineffective merely because a day earlier than the day on which the term ends is specified as the day on which vacant possession is to be delivered up to the lessor.
[Section 71J inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 92.]
Division 4 — Orders for termination of residential tenancy agreement
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 69.]
71.Application by lessor for termination and order for possession
(1)Where a lessor or a tenant under a residential tenancy agreement gives notice of termination to the other under this Act except under section 70A and the tenant fails to deliver up possession of the premises on the day specified, the lessor may, subject to section 62(5)(a), within 30 days after that day, apply to a competent court for an order terminating the agreement and an order for possession of the premises.
(2)Subject to this section, a competent court shall, upon application under this section, make an order terminating the agreement and an order for possession of the premises, if it is satisfied —
(a)that notice of termination was given by the lessor or tenant to the other and that it complied with and was given in accordance with this Act; and
(b)where the notice was given by the lessor upon a particular ground prescribed by this Act, other than a notice given by a lessor on a ground referred to in section 71C or 71H, that the lessor has established that ground and, in the case of notice upon the ground of a breach by the tenant of a term of the agreement, that the breach is in all the circumstances such as to justify termination of the agreement; and
(c)where the notice was given by a lessor upon a ground referred to in section 71C or 71H, in respect of the relevant matters referred to in subsection (3A).
(3A)The matters in respect of which the court is to be satisfied for the purposes of subsection (2)(c) in respect of a social housing tenancy agreement are —
(a)where the notice was given by the lessor upon a ground referred to in section 71C, that the tenant is not eligible to reside in social housing premises, or to reside in the class of social housing premises to which the agreement relates under the criteria approved under section 71E for the purposes of Division 3 Subdivision 2; or
(b)where the notice was given by the lessor upon a ground referred to in section 71H, that the lessor has offered to enter into a new social housing tenancy agreement with the tenant in respect of alternative premises to the premises the subject of the existing agreement and those alternative premises (which might or might not be the same as the premises in connection which the notice was given) are available for occupation by the tenant.
(3B)The court is not to make an order terminating a social housing tenancy agreement on a ground referred to in section 71C or 71H unless it is satisfied that —
(a)any notice required to be given under section 71F or 71I before giving notice of termination was given and that it was given in accordance with that section; and
(b)any review required to be carried out under section 71F or 71I was carried out and that it was carried out in accordance with that section.
(3C)Without limiting the obligations of the court under subsection (2), in considering the circumstances of a case concerning social housing premises under that provision, the court, in addition to having regard to the circumstances of the tenant and other circumstances of the case, is to have regard to such of the following matters as may be relevant —
(a)any serious adverse effects the tenancy has had on neighbouring residents or other persons;
(b)whether any breach of the residential tenancy agreement was a serious one, and whether, given the behaviour or likely behaviour of the tenant, a failure to terminate the agreement would subject, or continue to subject, neighbouring residents or any persons or property to unreasonable risk;
(c)the lessor’s responsibility to its other tenants;
(d)whether the tenant, wilfully or otherwise, is or has been in breach of an order of the court;
(e)the history of the tenancy concerned, including, if the tenant is a tenant under a social housing tenancy agreement, any prior tenancy of the tenant arising under any such agreement.
(3)Notwithstanding subsection (2) the court may —
(a)except where the premises the subject of the agreement are the principal place of residence of the lessor, suspend the operation of orders made under that subsection for a period not exceeding 30 days after the day on which the orders are made, if it is satisfied that it is desirable to do so having regard to the relative hardship that would be caused —
(i)to the lessor by suspending the orders; or
(ii)to the tenant by not suspending the orders;
or
(b)refuse to make the orders under that subsection, if it is satisfied —
(i)that the lessor was wholly or partly motivated to give the notice by the fact that the tenant had complained to a public authority or taken steps to secure or enforce his rights as a tenant; or
(ii)in the case of notice given by the lessor upon the ground of a breach by the tenant, that the tenant has remedied the breach, but in every case the court shall take into account any previous breaches of the agreement by the tenant; or
(iii)in the case of notice given by the lessor upon the ground referred to in section 69, that the consequences of the lessor continuing to be bound by the agreement would not be unduly burdensome to the lessor.
(4)Where in any proceedings upon an application under this section the court is satisfied that the tenant had, within the period of 6 months before notice was given by the lessor, complained to a public authority or taken steps to secure or enforce the tenant’s rights as a tenant, the burden shall lie on the lessor to prove that the lessor was not wholly or partly motivated to give notice by that fact.
(5)Subject to subsection (3)(a), where the court terminates a residential tenancy agreement and makes an order for possession of the premises under this section, it shall specify the day as from which the orders shall operate, being within 7 days after the day on which the orders are made.
(6)The Limitation Act 2005 does not apply to or in relation to an application under this section.
[Section 71 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 1995 s. 51; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120; No. 20 of 2005 s. 23; No. 60 of 2011 s. 70, 88, 89 and 93.]
72.Application for termination and order for possession in relation to fixed term agreements
(1A)In this section —
agreement has the meaning given in section 70A(1);
possession day has the meaning given in section 70A(1).
(1)Where a lessor or a tenant under an agreement gives notice of termination under section 70A and the tenant fails to deliver up possession of the premises on the possession day, the lessor may, within 30 days after the possession day, apply to a competent court for an order terminating the agreement and an order for possession of the premises.
(2)Subject to this section, a competent court shall, upon application under this section, make an order terminating the agreement and an order for possession of the premises.
(3)Notwithstanding subsection (2), except where the premises the subject of the agreement are the principal place of residence of the lessor, the court —
(a)may suspend the operation of orders under that subsection for a period not exceeding 30 days, if it is satisfied that it is desirable to do so having regard to the relative hardship that would be caused —
(i)to the lessor by suspending the orders; or
(ii)to the tenant by not suspending the orders;
and
(b)shall refuse to make the orders under that subsection where the term of the tenancy under the agreement is less than 90 days unless it is satisfied —
(i)that the lessor genuinely proposed, at the time that the lessor entered into the agreement, to use the premises after the expiration of the term for purposes inconsistent with the tenant continuing to occupy the premises; or
(ii)that the tenant of the tenant’s own initiative sought a tenancy of a term of less than 90 days.
(4)Subject to subsection (3)(a), where the court terminates a residential tenancy agreement and makes an order for possession of the premises under this section, it shall specify the day as from which the orders shall operate, being within 7 days after the day on which the orders are made.
(5)The Limitation Act 2005 does not apply to or in relation to an application under this section.
[Section 72 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120 and 121; No. 20 of 2005 s. 23; No. 60 of 2011 s. 71, 88 and 89.]
73A.Notice of termination not required in certain cases
An application under section 73, 74, 75A or 75 may be made whether or not notice of termination has been given.
[Section 73A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 94.]
73.Termination of agreement where tenant causing serious damage or injury
(1)A competent court may, upon application by the lessor under a residential tenancy agreement, terminate the agreement if it is satisfied that the tenant has intentionally or recklessly caused or permitted, or is likely intentionally or recklessly to cause or permit —
(a)serious damage to the premises or, where relevant, a common area or chattels in the common area; or
(b)injury to —
(i)the lessor; or
(ii)the property manager of the premises; or
(iii)any person in occupation of or permitted on adjacent premises.
(2)Where a court terminates a residential tenancy agreement under this section, it shall also make an order for possession of the premises of immediate effect.
[Section 73 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120; No. 60 of 2011 s. 72, 88 and 89; No. 25 of 2019 s. 69.]
74.Termination of agreement where lessor or tenant would otherwise suffer undue hardship
(1)A competent court may, upon application by the lessor or tenant under a residential tenancy agreement, terminate the agreement, if it is satisfied that the lessor or tenant would, in the circumstances of the case, suffer undue hardship if the lessor or tenant were required to terminate the agreement under any other provision of this Act.
(2)Where a court terminates a residential tenancy agreement under this section, it —
(a)shall also make an order for possession of the premises and shall specify a day as from which the orders shall operate that it considers is, in the circumstances of the case, appropriate; and
(b)may make such other orders as to compensation of the tenant or lessor for any loss caused thereby or as to any other matter that it considers is, in the circumstances of the case, appropriate.
[Section 74 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120 and 121; No. 60 of 2011 s. 73 and 88.]
75A.Termination of social housing tenancy agreement due to objectionable behaviour
(1)A competent court may, upon application by the lessor under a social housing tenancy agreement, terminate the agreement if it is satisfied that the tenant has —
(a)used the social housing premises, or caused or permitted the social housing premises to be used, for an illegal purpose; or
(b)caused or permitted a nuisance by the use of the social housing premises; or
(c)interfered, or caused or permitted any interference, with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of any person who resides in the immediate vicinity of the premises,
and that the behaviour justifies terminating the agreement.
(2)The court may, on an application made under this section, make such other orders or give such other directions as the court in the circumstances of the case thinks fit, including, if there has been a breach of the agreement, making any order that the court may make under section 15.
(3)In deciding if the behaviour justifies terminating the agreement, or making any order or giving any direction referred to in subsection (2), the court may have regard to whether the behaviour was recurrent and, if it was recurrent, the frequency of the recurrences.
(4)Subsection (3) does not limit the issues to which the court may have regard.
(5)Where a court terminates a social housing tenancy agreement under this section, it must also make an order for possession of the social housing premises and must specify a day as from which the orders are to operate that it considers, in the circumstances of the case, appropriate.
(6)For the purposes of section 16(1), an order made by the court under subsection (2) is to be taken to have been made under section 15(2).
[Section 75A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 95.]
75.Termination of agreement for breach by lessor
(1)A competent court may, upon application by the tenant under a residential tenancy agreement, terminate the agreement, if it is satisfied that the lessor has breached the agreement and the breach is in the circumstances of the case such as to justify termination of the agreement.
(2)Where a court terminates a residential tenancy agreement under this section, it shall also make an order for possession of the premises and shall specify a day as from which the orders shall operate.
[Section 75 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120; No. 60 of 2011 s. 88 and 89.]
76A.Termination of agreement by lessor if premises abandoned
(1)If a lessor suspects on reasonable grounds that a tenant has abandoned the residential premises, the lessor may give a written notice to the tenant terminating the agreement.
(2)The notice must be in a form approved by the Minister and must —
(a)be signed by or for the lessor or property manager; and
(b)identify the residential premises; and
(c)state the lessor is terminating the agreement because the tenant has abandoned the premises.
(3)If the tenant does not take action under section 76B to dispute the notice within 7 days after being given the notice, the tenant is to be taken to have abandoned the premises.
[Section 76A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 74.]
76B.Dispute about s. 76A notice
(1)If the tenant wishes to dispute a notice given under section 76A, the tenant may apply to a competent court for an order —
(a)setting aside the notice; or
(b)for compensation.
(2)The application must be made within 28 days after the notice is given.
(3)On an application under this section, the court may —
(a)if the application was made within 7 days after the notice was given — make an order setting aside the notice; or
(b)if paragraph (a) does not apply — make any of the following orders —
(i)an order terminating the agreement;
(ii)an order requiring the lessor to pay to the tenant the amount stated by the court as compensation for loss or expense incurred by the tenant because of the termination of the agreement;
(iii)any other order it considers appropriate.
[Section 76B inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 74.]
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 74.]
76C.Fixed term tenancies continued as periodic tenancies
(1)This section applies to a residential tenancy agreement that creates a tenancy for a fixed term unless the agreement is terminated before the expiry day.
(2)Subject to subsection (3), a residential tenancy agreement continues as a periodic tenancy after the expiry day on the same terms that applied immediately before the expiry day.
(3)A competent court may, upon application by the lessor or tenant, make such modification to the terms of the residential tenancy agreement as may be necessary for, or appropriate to, its continuance.
[Section 76C inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 74.]
76.Compensation to lessor for holding over
(1)Where a tenant fails to comply with an order for possession made by a court under this Part, the lessor shall be entitled to compensation for any loss caused by that failure.
(2)A competent court may, upon application by the lessor, order the tenant to pay to the lessor any compensation to which the lessor is entitled under this section.
[Section 76 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(1) and (3); No. 60 of 2011 s. 89.]
(1)If the lessor suspects on reasonable grounds that the tenant has abandoned the residential premises, the lessor may give to the tenant a written notice stating that —
(a)the lessor suspects that the tenant has abandoned the premises; and
(b)unless the tenant informs the lessor within 24 hours after the giving of the notice that the tenant has not abandoned the premises, the lessor —
(i)will enter the premises for the purpose of inspecting and securing them; and
(ii)may give to the tenant a notice under section 76A or apply to a competent court for an order under section 78A.
(2)The notice under subsection (1) must be in a form approved by the Minister.
(3)The lessor must give the notice to the tenant by —
(a)leaving a copy at the premises; and
(b)leaving a copy at the tenant’s last known place of employment.
(4)If the tenant fails to notify the lessor within 24 hours after notice has been given under subsection (3) that the premises have not been abandoned, the lessor may enter the premises for the purposes of inspecting and securing them.
[Section 77 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 75.]
(1)If a lessor suspects on reasonable grounds that the tenant has abandoned the residential premises, the lessor may apply to a competent court for an order under this section.
(2)The lessor may make the application instead of giving a notice under section 76A to the tenant.
(3)If an application is made, the court may make an order declaring that the premises were abandoned by the tenant on the day stated in the order.
(4)If the court makes an order under subsection (3), the tenant is taken to have abandoned the premises on the day stated in the order.
[Section 78A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 75.]
78B.Review of abandonment order
(1)The tenant under a residential tenancy agreement who is dissatisfied with a decision of a court under section 78A(3) declaring that the tenant abandoned the premises on a stated day may apply to the court for a review of the decision.
(2)The application must be made within 28 days after the decision is made.
(3)The review is to be by way of a rehearing.
(4)The court —
(a)must exercise its original jurisdiction for the review; and
(b)may make an order under this section if it is satisfied the applicant did not abandon the premises or only abandoned the premises on a day after the day stated.
(5)The order the court may make is an order requiring the lessor under the agreement to pay to the tenant an amount the court considers appropriate as compensation for any loss or expense incurred by the tenant by the termination of the agreement.
[Section 78B inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 75.]
78.Right of lessor to compensation where tenant abandons premises
(1)Where a tenant under a residential tenancy agreement abandons the premises, the lessor shall be entitled to compensation from the tenant for any loss (including loss of rent) caused thereby, but shall take all reasonable steps to mitigate such loss and shall not be entitled to compensation in respect of any loss that could have been avoided thereby.
(2)A competent court may, upon application by the lessor, order the tenant to pay to the lessor any compensation to which the lessor is entitled under this section.
[Section 78 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(1); No. 60 of 2011 s. 88 and 89.]
(1A)In this section —
goods does not include a tenant’s document as defined in section 80A.
(1)Where a residential tenancy agreement is terminated and goods are left on the premises that were subject to the agreement, the lessor may, after the expiration of 2 days from the termination of the agreement, remove and destroy or dispose of the goods if —
(a)the goods are perishable foodstuffs; or
(b)the estimated value of the goods is less than the total estimated cost of the removal, storage and sale of the goods.
(2)Where a residential tenancy agreement is terminated and goods are left on the premises that were subject to the agreement and have not been removed for destruction or disposal under subsection (1), the lessor shall store them in a safe place and manner for a period of not less than 60 days after the day on which the agreement is terminated.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(3)A lessor who stores goods under subsection (2) must cause notice in or to the effect of the form approved by the Commissioner for the purposes of this subsection —
(a)to be given to the tenant within 7 days after the day on which the goods were stored; or
(b)to be —
(i)made publicly available in any manner prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph, including (without limitation) by means of a website within 7 days after the day on which the goods were stored; and
(ii)posted in a prominent position on the premises that were subject to the former agreement within 9 days after the day on which the goods were stored.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(4)At the request of a lessor, the Commissioner may state in writing whether or not in the Commissioner’s opinion there are reasonable grounds for believing that subsection (1) applies in respect of particular goods.
(5)Where a lessor has been found liable to the owner of goods in respect of the removal, destruction or disposal of the goods, being goods that were left on premises that were subject to a former agreement, and it is proved that the lessor removed and destroyed or disposed of the goods in reliance upon a statement of the Commissioner under subsection (4), the lessor shall be entitled to be paid from moneys standing to the credit of the Rental Accommodation Account, in accordance with clause 3(3)(a) of Schedule 1, an amount equal to the amount in respect of which the lessor has been found liable.
(6)Where —
(a)a residential tenancy agreement has been terminated; and
(b)goods have been left on the premises that were subject to the agreement; and
(c)at the request of the lessor, the Commissioner has made a statement in writing that in the Commissioner’s opinion there are reasonable grounds for believing that subsection (1) does not apply to the goods; and
(d)the total cost of removing, storing and selling the goods does in fact exceed the value of the goods,
a competent court may on application by the lessor make an order for the payment to the lessor out of moneys standing to the credit of the Rental Accommodation Account, in accordance with clause 3(3)(a) of Schedule 1, of an amount equal to the difference between the value of the goods and the reasonable cost of removal, storage and sale.
(7)A person who has a lawful right to goods removed and stored under subsection (2) may at any time before the goods are sold under subsection (8) reclaim the goods upon paying to the lessor the reasonable costs of the removal and storage of the goods.
(8)Where goods are stored under subsection (2) and have not been reclaimed within 60 days after the day on which they were removed and stored, the lessor shall as soon as practicable after the expiration of that period cause them to be sold by public auction.
(9)If goods are stored, removed and sold by public auction under this section, the lessor is entitled to retain out of the proceeds of the sale the reasonable costs of removing, storing and selling the goods.
(10)Where goods have been sold under this section by a lessor, the lessor may, upon application containing the prescribed information, pay into court an amount that a competent court is satisfied represents the balance of the proceeds of the sale after deduction of any amount to which the lessor is entitled under subsection (9) and any amount that the lessor is owed under the former agreement, and, where such payment is made, the receipt of the court for the moneys paid shall be sufficient discharge to the lessor of the lessor’s liability in respect of the moneys.
(11)Any moneys paid into court under subsection (10) shall be credited to the Rental Accommodation Account as provided by clause 3(2)(c) of Schedule 1.
(12)Where any application is made to a competent court by any person claiming any amount credited to the Rental Accommodation Account under this section, the court may, upon being satisfied that the person is entitled to the amount, order that the amount be paid to the person.
(13)Where goods are sold by public auction under this section, the purchaser shall, unless the purchaser has actual notice of any interest in the goods of any person other than the tenant, acquire a good title to the goods in defeasance of any such interest.
(14)A lessor shall not incur any liability —
(a)in respect of the removal, destruction or disposal of goods under subsection (1); or
(b)in respect of the removal, storage or sale under this section of goods to which subsection (1) does not apply, except liability for intentional or negligent damage to the goods or where the lessor has actual notice of any interest in the goods of any person other than the tenant and fails to take all reasonable steps to notify that person of the whereabouts of the goods and afford that person a reasonable opportunity to reclaim the goods.
(15)Where a dispute arises between a lessor and a tenant in respect of goods to which this section applies, a competent court may, upon application by such person, order the payment of any amount or make such other order as it considers appropriate in the circumstances.
[Section 79 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 14 and 18; No. 59 of 1995 s. 56; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120 and 121; No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 149(1) and (5); No. 60 of 2011 s. 76, 88 and 89; No. 42 of 2016 s. 5.]
(1)In this section —
tenant’s document means —
(a)an official document; or
(b)a photograph; or
(c)correspondence; or
(d)any other document which it would be reasonable to expect that a person would want to keep.
(2)This section applies if —
(a)a residential tenancy agreement is terminated; and
(b)a tenant’s document is left on premises the subject of the agreement.
(3)The lessor must take reasonable care of the tenant’s document for a period of 60 days after the termination of the agreement.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(4)The lessor must, during the period of 60 days after the termination of the agreement, take reasonable steps to notify the tenant —
(a)that the document was left at the premises; and
(b)as to when and from where the document may be collected.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(5)A person who has a lawful right to the document may reclaim it at any time before it is disposed of in accordance with subsection (7) if the person pays the lessor the reasonable costs, if any, incurred by the lessor in discharging the duties imposed on the lessor under this section in relation to that document.
(6)If a person who has a lawful right to a document reclaims the document and pays an amount equal to the reasonable costs incurred by the lessor in discharging the duties imposed on the lessor under this section, the lessor must give the document to that person.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(7)If the document has not been claimed under subsection (5) within 60 days after the day on which the agreement was terminated, the lessor may destroy or otherwise dispose of the document.
(8)If a lessor destroys or otherwise disposes of a document under subsection (7), a competent court may, on an application by the lessor, make an order for the payment to the lessor out of moneys standing to the credit of the Rental Accommodation Account, in accordance with Schedule 1 clause 3(3)(a), of an amount equal to the reasonable costs incurred by the lessor in discharging the duties imposed on the lessor under this section.
(9)Nothing in this section affects the operation of any other Act or law affecting the destruction or disposal of a document.
[Section 80A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 77; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
80.Recovery of possession of premises prohibited except by court order
No person shall except under an order of a competent court enter premises or any part of premises of which a person has possession as a tenant under a residential tenancy agreement or a former tenant holding over after termination of a residential tenancy agreement for the purpose of recovering possession of the premises or part of the premises, whether entry is effected peaceably or otherwise.
Penalty: a fine of $20 000.
[Section 80 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 1995 s. 55; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(1); No. 60 of 2011 s. 78 and 88.]
81A.Mortgagee repossessions of rented properties
(1)In this section —
notice to vacate, in relation to residential premises, means a written notice to vacate the premises;
specified date means a date, specified in a notice to vacate, by which the tenant is to vacate the residential premises.
(2)If a residential tenancy agreement is terminated under section 60(1)(e), the mortgagee is not to take possession of the residential premises from a tenant who is holding over after termination of the agreement unless the mortgagee, after becoming entitled to take possession, gives the tenant a notice to vacate the premises.
(3)The notice to vacate must be in a form approved by the Minister and must include a specified date that is not less than 30 days after the date on which the notice is given to the tenant.
(4)The tenant who is holding over after termination of the residential tenancy agreement —
(a)is not, during the period of 30 days following the date on which the tenant is given the notice to vacate, required to pay any rent, fee or other charge to occupy the residential premises; and
(b)is, if the tenant has paid any rent in advance for any part of that period, entitled to be repaid the amount of that rent.
(5)A competent court may, on application by the tenant, order the repayment to the tenant of any such amount referred to in subsection (4)(a) or (b).
(6)The mortgagee (or any person acting on behalf of the mortgagee) is, during the period in which the tenant is holding over after termination of the residential tenancy agreement, entitled to enter the residential premises to show the premises to prospective purchasers on a reasonable number of occasions, but only if the tenant —
(a)is given reasonable notice of each such occasion; and
(b)agrees to the date and time of the inspection.
(7)This section does not prevent the mortgagee from —
(a)taking possession of the residential premises before the specified date if the tenant voluntarily vacates the premises before that date; or
(b)changing the specified date to a later date by further notice in writing given to the tenant; or
(c)entering into a new residential tenancy agreement with the tenant in respect of the residential premises.
(8)This section extends to a tenant who is, immediately before the commencement of this section, holding over after termination of the residential tenancy agreement.
(9)This section has effect despite the terms of any court order made before the commencement of this section or any contract or other agreement.
[Section 81A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 79; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 19.]
81B.Notice of proposed recovery of premises by person with superior title
(1)This section applies where a person (the plaintiff) brings proceedings in a competent court for the recovery of possession of residential premises.
(2)The court must not make an order for possession unless it is satisfied —
(a)that a person is not in possession of the residential premises as —
(i)a tenant under a residential tenancy agreement; or
(ii)a tenant holding over after termination of a residential tenancy agreement;
or
(b)if there is such a person in possession of the residential premises and the plaintiff is not the lessor under the residential tenancy agreement — that the person has been given written notice, in a form approved by the Minister, of the proceedings not less than 30 days before the commencement of the proceedings.
(3)Failure to comply with this section does not invalidate or otherwise affect the judgment or order.
[Section 81B inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 79.]
81.Order for tenancy against person with superior title
(1)This section applies to a person who is or was in possession of residential premises as —
(a)a tenant under a residential tenancy agreement; or
(b)a tenant holding over after termination of a residential tenancy agreement,
at a time when proceedings for the recovery of possession of the premises had been commenced before a court by a person (the plaintiff) who is not the lessor under the agreement.
(2)A person to whom this section applies may apply for an order under this section and such an application may be made to —
(a)the court before which the proceedings are pending; or
(b)if the proceedings have been completed or possession has been recovered — a competent court,
within a reasonable time after the applicant was given notice of the proceedings or, if no notice was given, within a reasonable time after the recovery of possession of the residential premises.
(3)The court may, on such an application, and if it thinks it appropriate to do so in the special circumstances of the case, make an order vesting a tenancy over the residential premises in the applicant.
(4)The tenancy is to be held of the plaintiff, and on such terms and conditions as the court thinks fit, having regard to the circumstances of the case.
(5)Such an application or order may be made, even though —
(a)notice was not given to the applicant of the proceedings brought by the plaintiff; or
(b)the proceedings brought by the plaintiff have been completed or possession of the residential premises has been recovered by the plaintiff.
[Section 81 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 79.]
Part VIA — Residential tenancy databases
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96.]
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96.]
In this Part —
agent, of a lessor, means a person employed, or otherwise authorised, by the lessor to act as the lessor’s agent;
database means a system, device or other thing used for storing information, whether electronically or in some other form;
database operator means an entity that operates a residential tenancy database;
inaccurate, in relation to personal information in a residential tenancy database, includes information that is inaccurate because —
(a)the information indicates that the person owes a lessor an amount that is more than the security bond for a residential tenancy agreement; and
(b)the amount owed was paid to the lessor more than 3 months after the amount became due;
list, personal information about a person in a residential tenancy database —
(a)means —
(i)to enter the personal information into the database; or
(ii)to give the personal information to a database operator or someone else for entry into the database;
and
(b)includes to amend personal information about a person in the database to include additional personal information about the person;
out‑of‑date, in relation to personal information in a residential tenancy database, means the information is no longer accurate because —
(a)for a listing made on the basis the person owes a lessor an amount that is more than the security bond for a residential tenancy agreement — the amount owed was paid to the lessor within 3 months after the amount became due; or
(b)for a listing made on the basis a court has made an order terminating the residential tenancy agreement — the order has been set aside on appeal;
personal information means information (including an individual’s name) or an opinion, whether true or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion;
residential premises includes a long‑stay site in a residential park as those terms are defined in the Residential Parks (Long‑stay Tenants) Act 2006;
residential tenancy agreement includes a long‑stay agreement as defined in the Residential Parks (Long‑stay Tenants) Act 2006;
residential tenancy database means a database —
(a)containing personal information —
(i)relating to, or arising from, the occupation of residential premises under a residential tenancy agreement; or
(ii)entered into the database for reasons relating to, or arising from, the occupation of residential premises under a residential tenancy agreement;
and
(b)the purpose of which is for use by lessors or agents of lessors for checking a person’s tenancy history to decide whether a residential tenancy agreement should be entered into with the person;
tenant includes a long‑stay tenant as defined in the Residential Parks (Long‑stay Tenants) Act 2006.
[Section 82A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96.]
(1)This Part does not apply to a residential tenancy database kept by an entity (including a government department of this State, another State or a Territory) for use only by that entity or its officers, employees or agents.
(2)This Part applies to a database operator, regardless of whether the database operator is inside or outside of the State, if the database operator operates a residential tenancy database containing personal information —
(a)about a person who resides in the State; or
(b)relating to, or arising from, the occupation of residential premises under a residential tenancy agreement within the State.
[Section 82B inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96; amended: No. 25 of 2019 s. 70.]
Division 2 — Tenancy database information
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96.]
82C.Notice of usual use of database
(1)This section applies if —
(a)a person (the applicant) applies to a lessor, whether or not through the lessor’s agent, to enter into a residential tenancy agreement; and
(b)the lessor or, if the application is made through the lessor’s agent, the lessor or agent usually uses one or more residential tenancy databases for deciding whether a residential tenancy agreement should be entered into with a person.
(2)The lessor or agent must, when the application is made, give the applicant written notice stating the following —
(a)the name of each residential tenancy database the lessor or agent usually uses, or may use, for deciding whether a residential tenancy agreement should be entered into with a person;
(b)that the reason the lessor or agent uses a residential tenancy database mentioned in paragraph (a) is for checking an applicant’s tenancy history;
(c)for each residential tenancy database mentioned in paragraph (a), how persons may contact the database operator who operates the database and obtain information from the operator.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(3)Subsection (2) applies in relation to a residential tenancy database whether or not the lessor or agent intends to use the database for deciding whether a residential tenancy agreement should be entered into with the applicant.
(4)However, the lessor or agent is not required to give the written notice mentioned in subsection (2) if a written notice stating the matters mentioned in the subsection was given to the applicant not more than 7 days before the application was made.
[Section 82C inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
82D.Notice of listing if database used
(1)This section applies if —
(a)a person (the applicant) applies to a lessor, whether or not through the lessor’s agent, to enter into a residential tenancy agreement; and
(b)the lessor or, if the application is made through the lessor’s agent, the lessor or agent uses a residential tenancy database for checking whether personal information about the applicant is in the database; and
(c)personal information about the applicant is in the database.
(2)The lessor or agent must, as soon as possible but within 7 days after using the database, give the applicant a written notice stating —
(a)the name of the database; and
(b)that personal information about the applicant is in the database; and
(c)the name of each person who listed the personal information in the database; and
(d)how and in what circumstances the applicant can have the personal information removed or amended under this Part.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(3)However, subsection (2)(c) requires the written notice to state the name of a person only if the person is identified in the residential tenancy database as the person who listed the personal information in the database.
[Section 82D inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
82E.Listing can be made only for particular breaches by particular persons
(1)A lessor, lessor’s agent or database operator must not list personal information about a person in a residential tenancy database unless —
(a)the person was named as a tenant in a residential tenancy agreement that has ended; and
(b)the person has breached the agreement; and
(ba)the breach does not consist of, or relate to —
(i)a failure by the person to pay rent during the emergency period as defined in the Residential Tenancies (COVID‑19 Response) Act 2020 section 4 due to financial hardship caused by the economic effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic; or
(ii)any other matter relating to the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic prescribed by regulations;
and
(c)because of the breach, either —
(i)the person owes the lessor an amount that is more than the security bond for the agreement; or
(ii)a court has made an order terminating the residential tenancy agreement;
and
(d)the personal information —
(i)relates only to the breach; and
(ii)is accurate, complete and unambiguous.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)Without limiting subsection (1)(d)(ii), the personal information must indicate the nature of the breach.
[Section 82E inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25; 18 of 2020 s. 78.]
82F.Further restriction on listing
(1)A lessor, lessor’s agent or database operator must not list personal information about a person in a residential tenancy database unless the lessor, agent or operator —
(a)has, without charging a fee —
(i)given the person a copy of the personal information; or
(ii)taken other reasonable steps to disclose the personal information to the person;
and
(b)has given the person at least 14 days to review the personal information and make submissions —
(i)objecting to its entry into the database; or
(ii)about its accuracy, completeness and clarity;
and
(c)has considered any submissions made.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)Subsection (1) does not apply if the lessor, lessor’s agent or database operator cannot locate the person after making reasonable enquiries.
(3)Subsection (1)(b) and (c) do not apply —
(a)to information that, at the time of the listing, is contained in publicly available court or tribunal records; or
(b)to a listing involving only an amendment of personal information about a person under section 82G.
[Section 82F inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
82G.Ensuring quality of listing — lessor’s or agent’s obligation
(1)This section applies if a lessor or lessor’s agent who lists personal information in a residential tenancy database becomes aware that the information is inaccurate, incomplete, ambiguous or out‑of‑date.
(2)The lessor or agent must, within 7 days, give written notice of the following to the database operator who operates the database —
(a)if the information is inaccurate, incomplete or ambiguous —
(i)that the information is inaccurate, incomplete or ambiguous; and
(ii)how the information must be amended so that it is no longer inaccurate, incomplete or ambiguous;
(b)if the information is out‑of‑date — that the information is out‑of‑date and must be removed.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(3)The lessor or agent must keep a copy of the written notice for one year after it was given under subsection (2).
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 82G inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
82H.Ensuring quality of listing — database operator’s obligation
(1)This section applies if a lessor or agent of a lessor who has listed personal information about a person in a residential tenancy database gives the database operator that operates the database written notice that the personal information must be —
(a)amended in a stated way to make it accurate, complete and unambiguous; or
(b)removed.
(2)The database operator must amend the personal information in the stated way, or remove the personal information, within 14 days of the notice being given.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
[Section 82H inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
82I.Providing copy of personal information listed
(1)A lessor or lessor’s agent who lists personal information about a person in a residential tenancy database must, if asked in writing by the person, give the person a copy of the information within 14 days after the request is made.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)A database operator must, if asked in writing by a person whose personal information is in the residential tenancy database kept by the operator, give the person a copy of the information within 14 days after the request is made.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(3)If a lessor or lessor’s agent charges a fee for giving personal information under subsection (1), or a database operator charges a fee for giving personal information under subsection (2), the subsection applies only if the fee has been paid.
(4)A fee charged by a lessor or lessor’s agent for giving personal information under subsection (1) or by a database operator for giving personal information under subsection (2) —
(a)must not be excessive; and
(b)must not apply to lodging a request for the information.
[Section 82I inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
(1)A person may apply to a competent court for an order under this section if personal information about the person has been listed in a residential tenancy database.
(2)The court may make an order under this section if it is satisfied that —
(a)the residential tenancy database includes personal information about the applicant that is inaccurate, incomplete, ambiguous or out‑of‑date; or
(b)the inclusion of the applicant’s name or other personal information about the applicant is unjust in the circumstances, having regard to all of the following —
(i)the reason for the listing;
(ii)the tenant’s involvement in any acts or omissions giving rise to the listing;
(iii)any adverse consequences suffered, or likely to be suffered, by the tenant because of the listing;
(iv)any other relevant matter.
(2A)Without limiting subsection (2)(b), the inclusion of the applicant’s name or other personal information about the applicant is unjust if the circumstances relating to the listing result from the applicant being subjected or exposed to family violence.
(2B)The court may order personal information about a person in a residential tenancy database to be wholly or partly removed, amended in a stated way or not listed in a residential tenancy database.
(3)The court must give a copy of the order to the lessor, tenant and database operator.
(4)If the court makes an order directing a person other than a lessor or agent to remove, amend or not list information in a residential tenancy database, the court must give a copy of the order to the person.
[Section 82J inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 20.]
82K.Keeping personal information listed
(1)In this section —
national privacy principles means the principles stated in the Privacy Act 1988 (Commonwealth).
(2)A database operator must not keep personal information about a particular person in the operator’s residential tenancy database for longer than —
(a)3 years; or
(b)if, under the national privacy principles, the operator of the database is required to remove the personal information before the end of the 3 year period mentioned in paragraph (a) — the period ending when the information must be removed under the national privacy principles; or
(c)if the person —
(i)was a minor as defined in section 59A(1) when the information was listed in the database; and
(ii)reaches 18 years of age before the end of the 3 year period mentioned in paragraph (a),
the period ending when the person reaches 18 years of age.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(3)However, a database operator may keep the person’s name in the operator’s residential tenancy database for longer than the period stated in subsection (2)(a) or (b) if —
(a)other personal information about the person in the database is attached to the name; and
(b)the other personal information is not required to be removed under subsection (2) or another law.
(4)This section does not limit the operation of another provision of this Part or of another law that requires the removal of the personal information.
[Section 82K inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 96; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
(1)Except as provided under this Act —
(a)any agreement or arrangement that is inconsistent with a provision of this Act or purports to exclude, modify or restrict the operation of this Act is to that extent void and of no effect; and
(b)any purported waiver of a right conferred by or under this Act is void and of no effect.
(2)A person must not enter into any agreement or arrangement with intent either directly or indirectly to defeat, evade or prevent the operation of this Act.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $10 000.
[(3)deleted]
[Section 82 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 80; No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
83.Recovery of amounts paid under mistake of law or fact
Where a party to a residential tenancy agreement pays any amount to the other party under a mistake of law or fact relating to the agreement, that party may —
(a)upon application to a competent court, recover that amount from the other party; or
(b)in the case of payment by the tenant, deduct the amount from rent payable under the agreement.
[Section 83 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 18; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(1).]
84.Exemption of tenancy agreement or premises from provision of Act
A competent court may, upon application by any person, if the court considers it necessary or desirable in the circumstances, order that a provision of this Act shall not apply to or in relation to any residential tenancy agreement or proposed residential tenancy agreement or any premises or shall apply in a modified manner specified in the order and the order shall have effect accordingly.
[Section 84 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 16; No. 59 of 2004 s. 120(1) and (3).]
(1)Any notice or document required or authorised to be given under this Act to any person may —
(a)be given to that person personally; or
(b)be sent by post addressed to that person at any place specified by the person as a place where the person’s mail may be directed or, if the person has not so specified, at the person’s last known place of residence, employment or business; or
(c)with the consent of that person or in other prescribed circumstances, be given or served by prescribed electronic means.
(2)If a letter is sent in accordance with subsection (1)(b) the giving of the notice or document so sent is deemed to be effected at the time when the letter would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post.
(3)If a notice or document required or authorised to be given under this Act cannot be given or sent to a person in accordance with subsection (1), it shall be deemed to have been given to that person if —
(a)a copy of it is published in a daily newspaper circulating throughout all, or most of, the State; or
(b)a court hearing proceedings under this Act orders an alternative means of giving the notice or document, and that means of giving the notice or document is effected; or
(c)it is made publicly available in any manner prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph, including (without limitation) by means of a website.
(4)Any notice or document required or authorised to be given under this Act to any tenant under a residential tenancy agreement shall be deemed to have been duly given to the tenant if it is given —
(a)to any person apparently over the age of 16 years apparently residing in the premises the subject of the agreement; or
(b)to the person who ordinarily pays the rent under the agreement.
(5)A notice or document required or authorised to be given under this Act to a lessor under a residential tenancy agreement shall be deemed to have been duly given to the lessor if it has been given to the property manager of the residential premises, to any person apparently over the age of 16 years apparently residing at the place of residence of the lessor, or to the person who ordinarily receives the rent under the agreement.
(6)Where 2 or more persons are lessors or tenants under a residential tenancy agreement it shall be sufficient compliance with a provision of this Act requiring or authorising that a notice or document be given to the lessor or tenant under a residential tenancy agreement if the notice or document is given to any one of the lessors or tenants, as the case may be.
[Section 85 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 81 and 89; No. 42 of 2016 s. 6; No. 3 of 2019 s. 21.]
86.Court may refer matter to Commissioner for investigation
(1)If, while hearing proceedings under this Act, a court forms a suspicion that a person has committed an offence against this Act (other than an offence to which the proceedings relate), the court may refer the matter to the Commissioner for investigation.
(2)A court referring a matter to the Commissioner under subsection (1) is to give to the Commissioner any relevant documents or other records in the court’s possession.
[Section 86 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 82.]
87A.Defence where lessor and property manager are both charged with the same offence
If a lessor under a residential tenancy agreement and a property manager of the residential premises under that agreement are both charged with the same offence under this Act, it is a defence to the charge for one of them to prove that he or she —
(a)did not aid, abet, counsel or procure the act or omission of the other giving rise to the offence; and
(b)was not in any way, by act or omission, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in, or party to, the act or omission by the other.
[Section 87A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 82.]
87.Time for bringing proceedings
Proceedings for an offence against this Act may be commenced at any time within 2 years of the day on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
(1)In subsection (2), (3), (6) or (7) —
authorised person means a person appointed under subsection (13) by the Commissioner to be an authorised person for the purposes of the subsection in which the term is used.
(2)An authorised person who has reason to believe that a person has committed a prescribed offence under this Act may give an infringement notice to the alleged offender within —
(a)21 days after forming the opinion that there is sufficient evidence to support the allegation of the offence; and
(b)6 months after the alleged offence is believed to have been committed.
(3)An infringement notice is to be in the prescribed form and is to —
(a)contain a description of the alleged offence; and
(b)advise that if the alleged offender does not wish to have a complaint of the alleged offence heard and determined by a court, the amount of money specified in the notice as being the modified penalty for the offence may be paid to an authorised person within a period of 28 days after the giving of the notice; and
(c)inform the alleged offender as to who are authorised persons for the purposes of receiving payment of modified penalties.
(4)In an infringement notice the amount specified as being the modified penalty for the offence referred to in the notice is to be the amount that was the prescribed modified penalty at the time the alleged offence is believed to have been committed.
(5)The modified penalty that may be prescribed for an offence is not to exceed 20% of the maximum penalty that could be imposed for that offence by a court.
(6)An authorised person may, in a particular case, extend the period of 28 days within which the modified penalty may be paid and the extension may be allowed whether or not the period of 28 days has elapsed.
(7)An authorised person may, within 60 days after an infringement notice has been given and whether or not the modified penalty has been paid, withdraw the infringement notice by sending to the alleged offender a notice in the prescribed form stating that the infringement notice has been withdrawn.
(8)Where an infringement notice is withdrawn after the modified penalty has been paid, the amount is to be refunded.
(9)Subsection (10) applies if the modified penalty specified in an infringement notice has been paid within 28 days or such further time as is allowed and the notice has not been withdrawn.
(10)If this subsection applies it prevents the bringing of proceedings and the imposition of penalties to the same extent that they would be prevented if the alleged offender had been convicted by a court of, and punished for, the alleged offence.
(11)Payment of a modified penalty is not to be regarded as an admission for the purposes of any proceedings, whether civil or criminal.
(12)Unless subsection (8) requires it to be refunded, an amount paid as a modified penalty is to be dealt with as if it were a penalty imposed by a court as a penalty for an offence.
(13)The Commissioner may, in writing, appoint persons or classes of persons to be authorised persons for the purposes of subsection (2), (3), (6) or (7) or for the purposes of 2 or more of those subsections, but a person who is authorised to give infringement notices under subsection (2) is not eligible to be an authorised person for the purposes of any of the other subsections.
(14)The Commissioner is to issue to each person who is authorised to give infringement notices under this section a certificate of that person’s authorisation, and the authorised person is to produce the certificate whenever required to do so by a person to whom an infringement notice has been or is about to be given.
[Section 88A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 83.]
88B.Cross‑examination of persons in proceedings involving family violence
The Restraining Orders Act 1997 section 44C applies to proceedings under this Act that involve family violence as if references to the respondent were references to the person allegedly committing the family violence.
[Section 88B inserted: No. 3 of 2019 s. 22.]
(1)The Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.
(2)Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), regulations made under that subsection may —
(a)provide for the practice and procedure to be followed, and the payment of fees, in relation to proceedings under this Act; and
[(b)-(d)deleted]
(e)prescribe penalties not exceeding $5 000 for breach of, or non‑compliance with, any regulation.
(3)Regulations made under subsection (1) for the purposes of section 47(4) or 71AB(2)(d)(vi) cannot come into operation earlier than 6 months after they are published in the Gazette.
[Section 88 amended: No. 60 of 2011 s. 84; No. 3 of 2019 s. 23.]
[89.Omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]
(1)The Minister shall carry out, or cause to be carried out, a review of the operation of this Act as soon as practicable after the expiration of 5 years from the coming into operation of Part 3 of the Real Estate Legislation Amendment Act 1995.
(2)The Minister shall prepare a report based on the Minister’s review of this Act and shall as soon as practicable after the preparation thereof, cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament.
[Section 90 amended: No. 59 of 1995 s. 53; No. 60 of 2011 s. 85.]
Part VII — Savings and transitional provisions relating to the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2011
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86.]
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86.]
91.Savings in relation to contracting out of standard terms
(1)In this section —
commencement day means the day on which the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2011 section 80(3) comes into operation.
(2)If a residential tenancy agreement subsisting immediately before the commencement day contains a provision referred to in section 82(3), as in force immediately before that day, then that provision of the agreement continues to have effect after the commencement day despite the deletion of section 82(3) by section 80(3) of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2011.
[Section 91 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86.]
Division 2 — Security bonds held in AFI
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86.]
In this Part —
authorised financial institution or AFI means —
(a)an ADI (authorised deposit taking institution) as defined in the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth) section 5; or
(b)a bank constituted by a law of a State, a Territory or the Commonwealth; or
(c)any other body,
that was prescribed, or that belongs to a class of bodies that was prescribed, for the purposes of the definition of that term under Schedule 1 clause 1 as in force immediately before the commencement day;
commencement day means the day on which the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2011 section 87 comes into operation;
security bond held in an AFI means an amount of a security bond held in an AFI and that was so held immediately before the commencement day.
[Section 92 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86.]
93.All security bonds to be transferred to bond administrator after renewal of agreement or within 18 months
(1)A lessor under a residential tenancy agreement must take all reasonable steps to ensure that a security bond held in an AFI that was paid in relation to the agreement is paid from the account in accordance with subsection (2) —
(a)if the agreement is renewed — as soon as practicable after the renewal; or
(b)in any other case — not later than 18 months after the commencement day.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(2)The security bond is to be paid either —
(a)to the tenant; or
(b)to the bond administrator, in which case section 29(4)(b), (c) and (d) apply, with all necessary changes, to the payment.
[Section 93 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
94.Requirements for AFI holding security bonds
(1)An AFI must ensure that the following records are kept, in a form approved by the Minister, in relation to each security bond held in the AFI —
(a)the name and number of the account in which the security bond is held in the AFI;
(b)the amount of the security bond;
(c)the date the security bond was paid into the account.
(2)The AFI must hold a security bond on the following terms —
(a)interest at a rate not less than the prescribed rate must accrue on the amount of the bond for the period during which it is held by the AFI;
(b)the amount of interest accrued at the prescribed rate must be paid, at such times as are prescribed, to the Rental Accommodation Account and if interest is paid at a rate exceeding the prescribed rate, the amount of interest accrued above the prescribed rate must be paid, at such times as are prescribed, to the person who paid the bond;
(c)the AFI may deduct from a payment to the credit of the Rental Accommodation Account or from a payment to a tenant under paragraph (b) an amount not exceeding the amount of the fee as is prescribed in respect of a payment of that kind;
(d)the amount of the security bond must be paid out in accordance with section 96.
(3)In regulations made under section 88 the prescribed rate referred to in subsection (2)(a) and (b) may be prescribed by reference to a prescribed market rate indicator.
[Section 94 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 24.]
95.Power of Commissioner to obtain information relating to AFI security bond accounts
(1)Where a security bond is held in an AFI, the Commissioner may require the AFI to give to the Commissioner such information as the Commissioner requires in relation to an account in which the security bond is held, including information as to the balances of and amounts of interest paid on that account.
(2)A requirement under subsection (1) —
(a)must be given by notice in writing to the AFI; and
(b)must specify the time at or within which the information is to be given; and
(c)may, by its terms, require that the information be —
(i)given in writing; and
(ii)certified as correct by a person who is registered as an auditor, or taken to be registered as an auditor, under the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth) Part 9.2 and is specified in the requirement; and
(iii)given at or sent or delivered to any place specified in the requirement; and
(iv)sent or delivered by any means specified in the requirement; and
(v)given on oath or affirmation or by statutory declaration;
and
(d)must state that the AFI is required under this Act to give the information.
(3)A person must not, without reasonable excuse, refuse or fail to comply with a requirement under subsection (1).
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $3 000.
(4)A person must not give information in response to a requirement under subsection (1) that the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $3 000.
(5)It is a defence in proceedings for an offence against subsection (3) for the person to show that —
(a)the notice under subsection (2)(a) did not state that the person was required under this Act to give the information; or
(b)the time specified in the requirement did not give the person sufficient notice to enable compliance with the requirement.
(6)Where a person is required to give information under subsection (1), the person cannot refuse to comply with that requirement on the ground that the information may tend to incriminate the person or render the person liable to any penalty.
(7)Despite subsection (6), information given under this section is not admissible in evidence in any proceedings against the person other than proceedings in respect of an offence against subsection (4).
[Section 95 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
96.Disposal of security bond held in AFIs
(1)Where a security bond is held in an AFI in the name of a real estate agent under the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978, the real estate agent must on receipt of —
(a)an application in a form approved by the Minister signed by all parties to the residential tenancy agreement to which the bond relates; or
(b)a copy of an order under Schedule 1 clause 8,
pay from the account the amount of the bond, or where subsection (4) applies part of that amount, in accordance with the application or the order.
(2)A real estate agent must pay an amount under subsection (1) —
(a)within the period, if any, specified in the relevant application or order; or
(b)if no such period is specified, as soon as practicable but, in any case, not later than 7 days after receipt of the application or copy of the order.
Penalty for this subsection: a fine of $5 000.
(3)Where a security bond is held in an AFI in an account in the names of the lessor and the tenant entitled “tenancy bond account”, the AFI that holds the account must on receipt of —
(a)an application in a form approved by the Minister signed by all parties to the residential tenancy agreement to which the bond relates; or
(b)a copy of an order under Schedule 1 clause 8,
pay the amount of the bond, or where subsection (4) applies part of that amount, in accordance with the application or the order.
(4)An application under subsection (1)(a) or (3)(a) may relate to part of the amount of a security bond.
(5)Schedule 1 clause 5(3) applies in respect of an application referred to in subsection (1) or (3) as if it were an application referred to in clause 5(1) of that Schedule.
(6)Schedule 1 clause 5(4) applies, with all necessary changes, in respect of a security bond held in an AFI.
(7)Regulations made under section 88 may authorise the payment of an unclaimed bond to the credit of the Rental Accommodation Account.
[Section 96 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86; amended: No. 3 of 2019 s. 25.]
Division 3 — Residential tenancy databases
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86.]
97.Application of Part VIA to listings existing before commencement day
(1)In this section —
commencement day means the day on which the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2011 section 96 comes into operation.
(2)For the period of 3 months from the commencement day, Part VIA applies only in respect of personal information that is listed after that day.
(3)A term used in subsection (2) that is used in Part VIA has the same meaning in that subsection as it has in that Part.
[Section 97 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 86.]
Part 8 — Transitional provision relating to the Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2019
[Heading inserted: No. 25 of 2019 s. 71.]
98.Application of s. 49A to residential tenancy agreements and utility charges
(1)In this section —
commencement day means the day on which the Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2019 section 68 comes into operation;
public utility services has the meaning given in the Land Administration Act 1997 section 3(1).
(2)Subject to subsections (3) and (4), section 49A, as in force on and after commencement day, applies to a residential tenancy agreement (to the extent relevant) even though it was entered into before commencement day.
(3)If a tenant is provided with full details of an account for a charge for a public utility service and the charge was not paid in full before commencement day, section 49A, as in force immediately before commencement day continues to apply to the payment of the charge.
(4)If, before commencement day, a lessor or strata company received a notice of account in relation to a public utility service and the lessor or strata company has not given the tenant full details of the account for the charge, the 30 day requirement in section 49A(3)(c) does not apply.
[Section 98 inserted: No. 25 of 2019 s. 71.]
Schedule 1 — Provisions relating to holding and disposal of bonds and income from bonds
[s. 3, 7(3), 12, 29(4), (7), (8), 59D(6), 79(5), (6), (11) and 80A(8)]
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(1).]
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(2).]
In this Schedule —
authorised agent means a public officer appointed by the bond administrator to be the bond administrator’s agent and included in a notice of such appointment published in the Gazette.
[Clause 1 amended: No. 31 of 1993 s. 63(a); No. 59 of 1995 s. 54(1)(a); No. 26 of 1999 s. 100(3); No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(3)-(4).]
[2.Deleted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(5).]
3.Rental Accommodation Account
(1)An agency special purpose account called the Rental Accommodation Account is established under section 16 of the Financial Management Act 2006, which is to be administered by the bond administrator.
(2)There shall be credited to the Rental Accommodation Account all of the following —
(a)all moneys received under section 29(4)(b);
(ba)all moneys received pursuant to a court order under section 59D(2);
(bb)interest payable to the fund under section 94(2)(b);
(bc)amounts payable to the fund under the Residential Parks (Long‑stay Tenants) Act 2006 sections 75(3) and 102(1)(b);
(bd)amounts payable to the fund under the Residential Parks (Long‑stay Tenants) Act 2006 section 94(a);
(b)all income arising from the investment of that account, as determined by the Treasurer;
(c)any moneys received under section 79(11),
and there shall be charged to that account all amounts required to be paid under clause 5(1).
(3)The interest referred to in subclause (2)(bb), the amounts referred to subclause (2)(bc), the income referred to in subclause (2)(b) and the moneys referred to in subclause (2)(c) shall be applied —
(a)in payment of any amount required to be paid by or under section 79(5) or (6) or 80A(8); and
(aa)in payment of any amount required to be paid out of the fund under section 51 of the Residential Parks (Long‑stay Tenants) Act 2006 or under an order under section 76(2), (2A) or 77(2) of that Act; and
(ab)in reimbursement of the costs and expenses incurred for the purposes of the Residential Parks (Long‑stay Tenants) Act 2006 by the bond administrator, authorised agents and the Commissioner in carrying out their respective functions; and
(b)in reimbursement of the costs and expenses incurred, so far as such income and moneys will allow —
(i)in the operation and administration of the Magistrates Court in connection with dealing with minor cases (within the meaning of the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004); and
(ii)in the performance by the bond administrator and the bond administrator’s authorised agents, the Department and the Commissioner of their respective functions,
that are attributable to the carrying out of this Act or the Residential Parks (Long‑stay Tenants) Act 2006; and
(c)in payment of any amount required to be paid under subclause (5); and
(d)in funding any not‑for‑profit body, one of the main functions of which is the delivery of free or substantially subsidised legal services to tenants and that is approved by the Minister for the purposes of this paragraph.
(3a)The income referred to in subclause (2)(b) and the moneys referred to in subclause (2)(c) may, with the approval of the Minister, be applied in payment of grants to bodies, other than public sector bodies within the meaning of the Public Sector Management Act 1994, which provide educational or advisory services to tenants.
(4)The amount to be reimbursed under subclause (3)(b) —
(a)shall be determined by the Treasurer after consultation with the Ministers responsible for the administration of this Act and the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 respectively; and
(b)shall be credited to an operating account of the Department and the department principally assisting in the administration of the Magistrates Court (Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 respectively.
(5)If in the opinion of the Treasurer there is at any time any surplus income available from the Rental Accommodation Account the Treasurer may, after consulting the Minister, direct that all or part of that surplus income be expended by the Housing Authority as defined in section 71A for the purpose of social housing premises in such manner as the Treasurer might specify.
[Clause 3 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 17(a); No. 6 of 1993 s. 11; No. 31 of 1993 s. 63(b); No. 59 of 1995 s. 54(1)(d) and (e) and 56; No. 59 of 2004 s. 121; No. 28 of 2006 s. 137; No. 32 of 2006 s. 98; No. 77 of 2006 s. 4 and Sch. 1 cl. 149(2)-(5); No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(6)‑(9); No. 28 of 2020 s. 89.]
4.Duties of bond administrator
The bond administrator shall —
(a)cause to be kept proper accounts and records of transactions of the Rental Accommodation Account; and
(b)in relation to the amount of a security bond paid to the bond administrator under section 29(4)(b) —
(i)show in such records the name and address of the lessor and the tenant under the residential tenancy agreement in respect of which the bond was paid; and
(ii)pay out the amount of the bond in accordance with clause 5;
and
(c)in relation to the amount of a tenant compensation bond paid to the bond administrator under section 59D(2) —
(i)show in such records the name and address of the lessor and the tenant in respect of whom, and any residential premises in respect of which, the bond was paid; and
(ii)pay out the amount of the bond in accordance with Division 3.
[Clause 4 amended: No. 77 of 2006 Sch. 1 cl. 149(5); No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(10) and 89.]
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(11).]
5A.Security bond moneys to be paid to bond administrator
(1)The payment of an amount under section 29(4)(b) must be made as soon as practicable, and in any event within 14 days, after the person’s receipt of the bond.
(2)The payment may be made either directly, including by electronic means, or by lodging the amount with an authorised agent of the bond administrator.
[Clause 5A inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(12).]
5.Disposal of security bond by bond administrator
(1)The bond administrator shall on receipt of —
(a)an application in a form approved by the Minister —
(i)signed by both parties to the residential tenancy agreement to which the security bond relates; and
(ii)lodged, including lodged by facsimile or electronic means, with the bond administrator or the bond administrator’s authorised agent;
or
(b)a copy of an order under clause 8,
pay the amount of the security bond, or where subclause (2) applies part of that amount, in accordance with the application or the order.
(2)An application under subclause (1)(a) may relate to part of the amount of a security bond.
(3)If a tenant is deceased, the signature of the tenant’s executor or administrator to an application is sufficient for the purposes of subclause (1)(a), and if a tenant is represented by a manager or administrator under any written law, the signature of the manager or administrator is sufficient for such purposes.
(4)If the bond administrator is satisfied that 6 months have elapsed since termination of a residential tenancy agreement and a security bond has not been paid in accordance with an application under this clause or an application has not been made under clause 8, the amount of the bond or any remaining portion of that amount must be disposed of in such manner as is, and subject to compliance with such provisions as are, prescribed by regulations made under section 88.
(5)Regulations made under section 88 may provide for a scheme designed to establish whether any bond is one which should be dealt with under subclause (4).
[Clause 5 amended: No. 69 of 2006 s. 32(2) and (3); No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(13)-(15).]
[Part C (cl. 6-7) deleted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(16).]
[Heading deleted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(17).]
8.Court may determine disposal of security bond
(1)Subject to this clause, a competent court may, upon application by a lessor or a tenant, order that the amount of any security bond be paid to the tenant in full, or, where the court is satisfied that the tenant is liable to pay an amount to the lessor by reason of a breach of a term of a residential tenancy agreement or for fumigation of the premises as mentioned in section 29(1)(b)(ii), that the amount of the security bond be applied in payment of, or towards, that amount and the balance, if any, be paid to the tenant.
(2)Notwithstanding anything in this clause a court shall not order that any amount held under section 29(1)(b)(ii) be paid to the tenant until the expiry of the period of 14 days after the tenant has delivered up vacant possession of the premises.
(3)Where a person makes an application under subclause (1), section 18(2) shall not apply but the court shall give to the other party notice in writing of the application inviting the party to indicate by notice in writing in the form approved by the Minister, filed in the office in which the application was filed within 7 days after service of the court’s notice, whether the party intends to dispute the application.
(4)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, where —
(a)a person makes an application under subclause (1) and notice has been given to the other party in accordance with subclause (3); and
(b)that other party does not within 7 days after service of that notice, or such longer period as the court hearing the application thinks fit, file in the office in which the application was filed a notice in writing in the form approved by the Minister, indicating that the party intends to dispute the application,
the court may, without conducting a formal hearing, order payment in accordance with the application.
(5)If the other party indicates in the manner referred to in subclause (4) that the party intends to dispute the application, section 18(2) and the other provisions of this Act relating to proceedings shall thereupon apply in relation to the application.
(6)A tenant may not make an application under subclause (1) before the termination of the residential tenancy agreement.
(7)Where more than one person is the tenant under a residential tenancy agreement, an application may be made under subclause (1) by any one or more of the tenants, and the court may, subject to subclause (2) —
(a)if it is satisfied that it would be just to do so, order that the full amount of the bond be paid to the applicant or applicants; or
(b)order that a tenant be paid any share of the bond to which the tenant is entitled,
in either case, less any deduction referred to in subclause (1).
(8)An application under this clause is a prescribed dispute within the meaning of section 12 irrespective of the amount claimed.
(9)In this clause a reference to the amount of a security bond includes, where clause 5(2) applies, a reference to the balance of a bond.
[Clause 8 amended: No. 50 of 1988 s. 17(b) and (c) and 18; No. 59 of 1995 s. 54(1)(h); No. 59 of 2004 s. 120 and 121; No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(18)-(22) and 89; No. 42 of 2016 s. 7.]
Division 3 — Tenant compensation bonds
[Heading inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(23).]
This Division applies where the bond administrator has been paid a tenant compensation bond in accordance with an order under section 59D(2).
[Clause 9 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(23).]
10.Disposal of tenant compensation bond to tenant by bond administrator
(1)The bond administrator must on receipt of —
(a)an application in a form approved by the Minister —
(i)signed by a tenant to a residential tenancy agreement to which the tenant compensation bond relates; and
(ii)lodged, including lodged by facsimile or electronic means, with the bond administrator or the bond administrator’s authorised agent;
and
(b)a copy of an order —
(i)made under section 15(2)(b) in relation to a failure by a lessor to compensate a tenant for reasonable expenses incurred by the tenant in arranging for urgent repairs to be carried out in accordance with section 43; and
(ii)subsequent to the order under section 59D(2),
pay the amount of the tenant compensation bond, or where subclause (2) applies part of that amount, in accordance with the application.
(2)An application under subclause (1)(a) may relate to part of the amount of a tenant compensation bond.
(3)If a tenant is deceased, the signature of the tenant’s executor or administrator to an application is sufficient for the purposes of subclause (1)(a), and if a tenant is represented by a manager or administrator under any written law, the signature of the manager or administrator is sufficient for such purposes.
(4)A payment under subclause (1) is to be taken to be a payment by the lessor in satisfaction, or part satisfaction as the case may be, of the order referred to in subclause (1)(b).
[Clause 10 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(23).]
11.Disposal of tenant compensation bond to lessor by bond administrator
The bond administrator must on receipt of —
(a)an application in a form approved by the Minister —
(i)signed by the lessor to whom the tenant compensation bond relates; and
(ii)lodged, including lodged by facsimile or electronic means, with the bond administrator or the bond administrator’s authorised agent;
and
(b)a copy of an order made under section 59D(5),
pay the amount of the tenant compensation bond, or part of that amount, ordered by the court in accordance with the application.
[Clause 11 inserted: No. 60 of 2011 s. 87(23).]
[Schedule 2 omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(f).]
This is a compilation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table.
|
Short title |
Number and year |
Assent |
Commencement |
|||
|
Residential Tenancies Act 1987 |
128 of 1987 |
21 Jan 1988 |
s. 1 and 2: 21 Jan 1988; |
|||
|
Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 1988 |
50 of 1988 |
8 Dec 1988 |
8 Dec 1988 (see s. 2) |
|||
|
Financial Administration Legislation Amendment Act 1993 s. 11 |
6 of 1993 |
27 Aug 1993 |
1 Jul 1993 (see s. 2(1)) |
|||
|
Acts Amendment (Ministry of Justice) Act 1993 Pt. 17 2 |
31 of 1993 |
15 Dec 1993 |
1 Jul 1993 (see s. 2) |
|||
|
Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act 1995 s. 33 |
34 of 1995 |
29 Sep 1995 |
1 Jul 1997 (see s. 2 and Gazette 20 Jun 1997 p. 2805) |
|||
|
Real Estate Legislation Amendment Act 1995 Pt. 3 3, 4 |
59 of 1995 |
20 Dec 1995 |
Pt. 3 other than s. 46 and 52: 1 Jul 1996 (see s. 2 and Gazette 25 Jun 1996 p. 2902); |
|||
|
Water Agencies Restructure (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 1995 s. 188 |
73 of 1995 |
27 Dec 1995 |
1 Jan 1996 (see s. 2(2) and Gazette 29 Dec 1995 p. 6291) |
|||
|
Reprint of the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 as at 15 Mar 1996 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Real Estate Legislation Amendment Act 1995) (correction in Gazette 6 Dec 1996 p. 6725) |
||||||
|
Local Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 s. 4 |
14 of 1996 |
28 Jun 1996 |
1 Jul 1996 (see s. 2) |
|||
|
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 1997 s. 39(10) |
57 of 1997 |
15 Dec 1997 |
15 Dec 1997 (see s. 2(1)) |
|||
|
Reprint of the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 as at 22 Jan 1999 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Real Estate Legislation Amendment Act 1995 s. 46 and 52) |
||||||
|
Acts Amendment and Repeal (Financial Sector Reform) Act 1999 s. 100 |
26 of 1999 |
29 Jun 1999 |
1 Jul 1999 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 30 Jun 1999 p. 2905) |
|||
|
Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 s. 220 |
10 of 2001 |
28 Jun 2001 |
15 Jul 2001 (see s. 2 and Gazette 29 Jun 2001 p. 3257 and Cwlth Gazette 13 Jul 2001 No. S285) |
|||
|
Taxation Administration (Consequential Provisions) Act 2002 s. 21 5 |
45 of 2002 |
20 Mar 2003 |
1 Jul 2003 (see s. 2 and Gazette 27 Jun 2003 p. 2383) |
|||
|
Acts Amendment and Repeal (Courts and Legal Practice) Act 2003 s. 61 |
65 of 2003 |
4 Dec 2003 |
1 Jan 2004 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Dec 2003 p. 5722) |
|||
|
Courts Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 Pt. 16 |
59 of 2004 |
23 Nov 2004 |
1 May 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7128) |
|||
|
Reprint 3: The Residential Tenancies Act 1987 as at 27 May 2005 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Real Estate Legislation Amendment Act 1995 s. 46 and 52) |
||||||
|
Limitation Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2005 s. 23 |
20 of 2005 |
15 Nov 2005 |
15 Nov 2005 (see s. 2) |
|||
|
Machinery of Government (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2006 Pt. 4 Div. 20 6 |
28 of 2006 |
26 Jun 2006 |
1 Jul 2006 (see s. 2 and Gazette 27 Jun 2006 p. 2347) |
|||
|
Residential Parks (Long‑stay Tenants) Act 2006 s. 98 |
32 of 2006 |
4 Jul 2006 |
3 Aug 2007 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1 Aug 2007 p. 3835) |
|||
|
Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006 Pt. 9 |
69 of 2006 |
13 Dec 2006 |
14 Jul 2007 (see s. 2 and Gazette 13 Jul 2007 p. 3453) |
|||
|
Financial Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2006 s. 4 and Sch. 1 cl. 149 |
77 of 2006 |
21 Dec 2006 |
1 Feb 2007 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 19 Jan 2007 p. 137) |
|||
|
Reprint 4: The Residential Tenancies Act 1987 as at 20 Jul 2007 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Residential Parks (Long‑stay Tenants) Act 2006) |
||||||
|
Legal Profession Act 2008 s. 698 |
21 of 2008 |
27 May 2008 |
1 Mar 2009 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 27 Feb 2009 p. 511) |
|||
|
Standardisation of Formatting Act 2010 s. 29 |
19 of 2010 |
28 Jun 2010 |
11 Sep 2010 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 10 Sep 2010 p. 4341) |
|||
|
Acts Amendment (Fair Trading) Act 2010 s. 189 |
58 of 2010 |
8 Dec 2010 |
1 Jan 2011 (see s. 2(c) and Gazette 24 Dec 2010 p. 6805) |
|||
|
Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2011 |
60 of 2011 |
14 Dec 2011 |
s. 1 and 2: 14 Dec 2011 (see s. 2(a)); |
|||
|
Reprint 5: The Residential Tenancies Act 1987 as at 19 Jul 2013 (includes amendments listed above) |
||||||
|
Dog Amendment Act 2013 Pt. 3 |
18 of 2013 |
29 Oct 2013 |
1 Nov 2013 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 31 Oct 2013 p. 4829) |
|||
|
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2014 s. 5 |
17 of 2014 |
2 Jul 2014 |
6 Sep 2014 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 5 Sep 2014 p. 3213) |
|||
|
Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2014 Pt. 12 |
23 of 2014 |
9 Oct 2014 |
19 Nov 2014 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 18 Nov 2014 p. 4315) |
|||
|
Reprint 6: The Residential Tenancies Act 1987 as at 6 Feb 2015 (includes amendments listed above) |
||||||
|
Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2016 |
42 of 2016 |
1 Dec 2016 |
s. 1 and 2: 1 Dec 2016 (see s. 2(a)); |
|||
|
Strata Titles Amendment Act 2018 Pt. 3 Div. 18 |
30 of 2018 |
19 Nov 2018 |
1 May 2020 (see s. 2(b) and SL 2020/39 cl. 2) |
|||
|
Community Titles Act 2018 Pt. 14 Div. 18 |
32 of 2018 |
19 Nov 2018 |
30 Jun 2021 (see s. 2(b) and SL 2021/69 cl. 2) |
|||
|
Residential Tenancies Legislation Amendment (Family Violence) Act 2019 Pt. 2 |
3 of 2019 |
26 Feb 2019 |
15 Apr 2019 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 9 Apr 2019 p. 1041-2) |
|||
|
Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Pt. 9 |
25 of 2019 |
24 Oct 2019 |
s. 67: 30 Nov 2019 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 29 Nov 2019 p. 4101); |
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Residential Tenancies (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020 Pt. 8 |
18 of 2020 |
23 Apr 2020 |
30 Mar 2020 (see s. 2(d)) |
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Residential Parks (Long‑ stay Tenants) Amendment Act 2020 Pt. 3 |
28 of 2020 |
9 Jul 2020 |
s. 88: 10 Jul 2020 (see s. 2(1)(b)); |
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Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2022 s. 424 |
9 of 2022 |
14 Apr 2022 |
1 Jul 2022 (see s. 2(c) and SL 2022/113 cl. 2) |
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1The provisions in this Act amending those Acts have been omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(f).
2The Acts Amendment (Ministry of Justice) Act 1993 Pt. 19 is a savings and transitional provision that is of no further effect.
3The Real Estate Legislation Amendment Act 1995 s. 54(2) and (3) read as follows:
(2)A financial institution which held a security bond under Schedule 1 to the principal Act immediately before the commencement of this section may continue to hold the bond after that commencement as if this section had not been enacted and for that purpose, subject to subsection (3), regulations in force under section 88 of the principal Act immediately before that commencement continue to apply.
(3)The interest payable by a financial institution after the commencement of this section on the amount of a security bond referred to in subsection (2) is interest at the prescribed rate in force from time to time under clause 6(1) of Schedule 1 to the principal Act as amended by this section.
4The Real Estate Legislation Amendment Act 1995 s. 46 and 52 were purported to be proclaimed on 1 January 1997 in Gazette 25 June 1996 p. 2902, but the proclamation was revoked before it came into force — see Gazette 6 September 1996 p. 4405.
5The Taxation Administration (Consequential Provisions) Act 2002 s. 3 and 4 and Pt. 4 are transitional provisions that are of no further effect.
6The Machinery of Government (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2006 Pt. 4 Div. 23 is a transitional provision that is of no further effect.
[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]
Defined termProvision(s)
AFI92
agent22(6), 82A
agreement70A(1), 71D(1), 72(1A)
applicant82C(1), 82D(1)
authorised agentSch. 1 cl. 1
authorised financial institution92
authorised person88A(1)
bond3
bond administrator3
commencement day91(1), 92, 97(1), 98(1)
Commissioner3
common area3
competent court3
consumption49A(1)
co‑tenant71AD(1)
criteria71A
database82A
database operator82A
Department3
disability47(1A)
DVO71AA
excluded tenant71AE(1)
executive officer7A(3)
existing agreement71H
expiry day3
Family Court injunction71AA
family violence3
family violence order71AE(1)
first tenant17A(1)
former agreement31B(1)
goods79(1A)
GST49A(1)
Housing Authority71A
inaccurate82A
information11A(3)
legally qualified person22(6)
lessor3, 46(1)
list82A
Minister for Housing71A
minor59A(1)
national privacy principles82K(1)
new agreement31B(1)
notice46(1), 70A(1)
notice to vacate81A(1)
out‑of‑date82A
party9(1A)
personal information82A
pet29(1A)
plaintiff81B(1), 81(1)
possession day70A(1), 72(1A)
premises3, 38(2), 40(1), 42(1), 44(1), 46(1), 71AA
prescribed3
prescribed alterations47(4)
prescribed amount12
prescribed dispute12
prescribed period43(1)
proceedings22(1A)
property manager3
protected tenant71AE(1)
public utility services49A(1), 98(1)
reasonable grounds3
reasonable time46(1)
rent3
Rental Accommodation Account3
residential premises3, 82A
residential tenancy agreement3, 82A
residential tenancy database82A
security bond3, 29(1A)
security bond held in an AFI92
social housing premises3, 71A
social housing provider3, 71A
social housing tenancy agreement3, 71A
specified date81A(1)
strata company49A(1)
suitable repairer43(1)
tenancy3
tenancy period3
tenant3, 82A
tenant compensation bond3
tenant compensation order59D(1)
tenant’s document80A(1)
terminating tenant71AC(1)
urgent repairs43(1)