In a tenancy, notice must be given before certain actions are taken as set out in the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the RTRA Act). This applies to actions by both managing parties and tenants/residents. The RTA provides specific forms which must be used to give notice for different actions.

The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) provides best practice guidelines to help tenants/residents and property managers/owners/providers confidently navigate the application process.

A tenant/resident must have written permission from the property manager/owner before attaching a fixture or making a structural change to the premises. The property manager/owner may include reasonable conditions as part of the approval. The property manager/owner must respond to the request in writing within 28 days after receiving the request.

When a tenant ends their interest in their tenancy on the grounds of experiencing domestic and family violence and vacates the property, the vacating tenant or the managing party can lodge a bond refund using this form.

The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the Act) applies to tenancy agreements for caravans, caravan sites, houseboats and rented manufactured homes. Manufactured homes which are occupied by their owners are covered by the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003.

The owner/manager is responsible for paying all charges, levies, premiums, rates or taxes payable for the land that is the park. Examples include land taxes, general rates and environmental levies. This does not prohibit the charging of GST on rents to tenants.

When a fixed term tenancy ends and the tenant will continue to remain in the rental premises, the property manager/owner and tenant need to decide on the future tenancy arrangements.

A flow chart to show the RTA’s dispute resolution process.

Assistance is available for residents experiencing domestic and family violence in a rental property

Assistance is available for tenants experiencing domestic and family violence in a rental property

Tenancy agreements can only be ended in accordance with the Act. There are processes that must be followed to end an agreement lawfully, including using the approved form to provide reason for ending the agreement and allowing the right amount of time for the notice period.

Tenancy agreements can only be ended in accordance with the Act. There are processes that must be followed to correctly end an agreement, including using the approved form to provide reasons for ending the agreement and allowing the right amount of time for the notice period.