Improving our rental system for all Canberrans


Released 13/02/2020

The ACT Government has today introduced the final component of its ground-breaking reforms to improve, simplify and streamline the Territory’s rental system

These changes will improve the quality of life for Canberra’s renters whilst still respecting the rights of landlords and ensure a fairer, more robust and concise legal framework for the community.

This combined package of legislation represents the most significant change to the way in which tenancy agreements and conditions operate in the ACT in more than 20 years.

This series of reforms were first outlined in the 2016 review into the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.

Attorney General Gordon Ramsay said that the changes would ensure a fairer system for tenants and provide a clearer framework for landlords to manage their properties.

“The old system of tenancy laws was outdated, often skewed in the favour of one party and lacked legal clarity around process, conditions, sustainability and fairness,” Minister Ramsay said.

“I am confident that this package of reforms will help ensure that both tenants and landlords understand their obligations through a simplified and streamlined system that will benefit our entire community.”

Residential Tenancies Amendment 1 (In effect from November 2019)

  • Protect renters from excessive rent increases
  • strengthen renters’ right to have a pet
  • enable renters to make minor modifications to their home
  • make it easier for renters to break leases without incurring significant costs.

Residential Tenancies Amendment 2

  • maximum of two weeks rent in advance allowing renter more flexibility by easing cost of living pressures.
  • made it easier for tenants to terminate a fixed term lease if they are moving into aged care facilities or social housing
  • streamlined the rules for a landlord to apply for a termination of a tenancy agreement if the property is used for an illegal activity.

Residential Tenancies Amendment 3

  • Clearer definitions to give greater certainty about the rights and obligations of grantors and occupants
  • mandatory minimum protections for occupants, including protections against unreasonable evictions, protection for access to communal areas, notice periods for a grantor to enter the premises and limitations on penalties that may be charged
  • grantors to ensure that occupants have information about dispute resolution mechanisms
  • new obligation for grantors who are not education providers to lodge security deposits with the Office for Rental Bonds
  • reflect modern community behaviours and expectations as share housing becomes an increasingly common living arrangement for students and young professionals saving up to buy their first home.

- Statement ends -

Gordon Ramsay, MLA | Media Releases


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