Tenancy law changes for victims of domestic violence

Announcement - 28 February 2019

From 28 February 2019 changes to tenancy laws allow tenants to end their tenancy immediately and without penalty if they or their dependent children are in circumstances of domestic violence.

Victims do not need to apply to NCAT

Victims of domestic violence do not need to apply to NCAT to end the tenancy. They can end a tenancy immediately and without penalty by serving the landlord and co-tenants with a domestic violence termination notice. Victims should contact NSW Fair Trading for advice on how to serve and what to include in and with a termination notice.

New orders for NCAT

Under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 NCAT can make orders following the service of a domestic violence termination notice. 

The following application forms have been updated with the new order types:

• Tenancy application form
  
• Social housing application form
  

Where can I find more information?

For more information about the tenancy law changes and domestic violence termination notices:

• Domestic violence tenancy laws
  
• NCAT Domestic Violence Protocol [PDF 97kB]
  
• NSW Fair Trading
  
• Residential Tenancies Act 2010
  
• Residential Tenancies Amendment (Circumstances of Domestic Violence) Regulation 2018