Changes due for tenancies act

TWEED tenants, landlords and property managers have been urged to attend a Fair Trading information session in Tweed Heads today.

TWEED tenants, landlords and property managers have been urged to attend a Fair Trading information session in Tweed Heads today.

Upcoming changes to tenancy laws will come into effect later this year but a Fair Trading spokeswoman said anyone who would be affected by the laws should understand them now.

The information session at Tweed Heads Civic Centre today from 10.30am will run for about two hours and Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal representative will run through the changes.

The spokeswoman said the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 was passed in June this year and would become law when necessary supporting regulations had been made.

She said the Act aimed to balance the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords, as well as update the law in line with current practices.

“Fair Trading has examined the tenancy laws in place in other states and territories to identify best practice approaches that have been successful elsewhere, and these have been adopted in the Act in a range of different areas.,” she said.

“These ideas and opinions have helped shape the Act.

“It also aims to reduce the level of disputes, by providing greater clarity and certainty in the legislation.”

She said New South Wales tenancy laws had remained largely unchanged since they were first introduced more than 20 years ago and in 2005 the government began a review with three rounds of public consultation with tenants, landlords, agents, and key interest groups.

The new law includes more than 20 changes which will bring the New South Wales laws in line with other states and territories.

Visit www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.

Originally published as Changes due for tenancies act