Agents and landlords in NSW will provide an additional layer of support for domestic violence victim-survivors following the introduction of the state’s latest rental reforms.
The NSW government's latest suite of rental reforms has taken effect, with property professionals and landlords acting as an additional support system for domestic violence victim-survivors.
As part of the reforms, property managers or landlords will be required to notify a co-tenant when a victim-survivor of domestic violence has safely vacated the property, to protect their safety.
Additionally, the reforms will make it easier for victim-survivors to leave a rental property and recover their share of the bond, while ensuring they would not be held responsible for damage caused by domestic or family violence.
Victim-survivors will also be given broader scope to change the locks without landlord consent, if the tenant reasonably believes locks must be changed to prevent them being subject to domestic abuse.
The government said the new laws were about supporting and empowering victim-survivors living in rental properties.
Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said the reforms make renting fairer by replacing outdated laws with practical and compassionate protections.
“No one should have to live in an unsafe home because of unfair rental laws,” Chanthivong said.
Additional changes include requiring renters' permission to publish images or videos of the interior or exterior that may show their belongings, as well as cracking down on tenancy databases that maintain records of victim-survivors.
The list of approved people who can declare that a renter was experiencing domestic and family violence has also been expanded, creating greater scope for those with a disability or non-English-speaking backgrounds to seek help.
According to NSW rental commissioner Trina Jones, the government worked closely with frontline services, industry experts and people with lived experience to ensure the reforms provided adequate support.
Minister for the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault Jodie Harrison said the reforms sent a clear message of support to victim-survivors.
Domestic violence NSW deputy CEO Pia Birac said that now that the reforms had been implemented, the next step was about building awareness and understanding so that victim-survivors were supported
“When leaving violence, victim-survivors are already in crisis. They shouldn’t have to navigate unnecessary paperwork, prove the details of their abuse to strangers or risk their safety just to leave a tenancy and find a safe home.”
“One less barrier, one less disclosure, one less risk,” Birac said.
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