New ACT laws aim to support tenants experiencing domestic or family violence.
19 December 2024
In brief:
- New ACT rental laws aim to help victim-survivors leave abusive situations.
- The laws allow tenants experiencing domestic or family violence to break their lease.
- This article explains what the new laws mean for tenants.
New ACT rental laws to help victim-survivors leave abusive situations are now in place.
The new laws allow tenants who have experienced domestic and family violence to break a lease immediately.
To give their landlord a family violence termination notice, tenants need to provide supporting evidence.
This could include a declaration from a specified list of professionals or a relevant legal order.
Relevant professionals include:
- social workers
- doctors
- nurses
- community support workers at family violence or child welfare services.
The legislation also seeks to ensure victim-survivors’ confidentiality by preventing landlords or agents from sharing tenants’ sensitive information.
Other reforms include new provisions to protect tenants by:
- limiting rent increases
- mandating break-lease fee caps
- simplifying property condition reports for tenants signing on for a new tenancy at the same rental property.
Further rental reforms to come
From 9 January 2025 landlords will need to provide tenants with:
- safety information about any swimming pools or spas at the rental property
- a unit title rental certificate, if the property is a unit.
The unit title rental certificate provides tenants with important information about the owner’s corporation and the common property of their unit’s complex.
These reforms progress the ACT’s commitment to the ‘Better Deal for Renters’ agreed by the National Cabinet. It aims to strengthen renters’ rights across Australia.
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