NSW Government rental laws set to favour tenants in major overhaul

Tenants and landlords in New South Wales are set to see a huge shake up of the state's rental laws, along the lines of laws already implemented by the Labor Government in Victoria.

The biggest change in the Residential Tenancies Act will put a cap on the timing of rental increases for periodic leases.

An increase will be limited to once a year.

There will be set fees for breaking a fixed term lease, however there will be no penalties for domestic violence victims who break the lease.

Currently tenants who break the lease must pay six weeks in the first half of a fixed term, or four weeks after the mid-way point of the lease.

Matt Kean, the Better Regulation Minister, called the changes common-sense.

“Under these common-sense changes, renting families will be able to make minor alterations, such as installing a picture hook to hang their family photos, and will benefit from a new set of minimum standards to ensure properties are in a liveable condition,” Mr Kean said.

“I believe we’ve struck the right balance with this reform, and I’m proud to be leading change that benefits the people of NSW.”

Since 2016 when the Census figures found one third of New South Wales residents were renters, the lobbying began to amend the Residential Tenancy Act.

Kean called the changes a "sweeping reform for tenants' rights."