The New South Wales Parliament last night approved changes to rental tenancy legislation aimed at giving victim-survivors of domestic violence new rights to leave unsafe homes and safeguard their privacy.
Under the reforms, people escaping domestic violence will no longer have to notify other co-tenants that they are terminating a lease. Instead, the landlord or agent will assume responsibility for informing the remaining occupants once the tenant has safely exited.
In addition, victim-survivors will gain broader rights to change locks without needing prior landlord consent, and landlords and agents will face stricter conditions when publishing photographs or videos of a property that could expose a tenant’s personal belongings and risk further harm.
The financial dimension of the reforms is notable. They provide clearer mechanisms for a victim-survivor to reclaim their share of a rental bond from co-tenants and protect them from being held liable for damage caused by the perpetrator of domestic violence, circumstances that until now could trap people in less safe housing situations.
The reforms also extend protections against unfair listings on tenancy databases by reinforcing the ban on listing victim-survivors, and simplifying the process for removing incorrect entries. The consultation behind the changes was extensive, with NSW Fair Trading engaging with more than 400 individuals and 40 organisations as part of the review.
Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said: “For too long, rental laws didn’t reflect the realities facing domestic violence victim-survivors across New South Wales. Today, that changes.” He added: “With these reforms the Minns Labor Government has sent a clear message to victim-survivors that we have heard you, and we support you.”
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said: “Often victim-survivors have to make the impossible choice between safety and a home. These reforms make sure they won’t have to anymore. They prioritise the safety of women and children escaping abuse, making sure they can remain in their rentals if they want to, or leave without their safety being compromised and facing a financial penalty.”
NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones described the changes as giving victim-survivors “the confidence and clarity they need to leave unsafe homes without fear or financial penalty.” She added: “We’ve worked closely with frontline services and the community to make sure these changes are practical and life changing.”
The reforms reflect amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 and are being enacted through the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Domestic Violence Reform) Bill 2025. They build on existing protections under NSW law that already permit a tenant experiencing domestic violence to terminate a lease immediately and without penalty, subject to evidence such as a domestic violence order or a declaration from a competent person.
What is new is the removal of the obligation to notify co-tenants or alleged perpetrators when fleeing a lease, an expansion of who can certify that someone is experiencing domestic violence, and clearer entitlements around bonds and damage. According to government sources, the reforms are also aimed at removing procedural hurdles that had discouraged some victim-survivors from exercising their rights.
However, some questions remain. The reforms cover private rentals in NSW, but housing affordability pressures in many parts of the state may still create practical challenges for tenant-victim-survivors seeking to relocate. Moreover, while the reforms protect tenant rights, co-tenants who are not perpetrators may find themselves navigating complex arrangements when a lease is terminated early. Existing guidance notes a co-tenant could have a two-week grace period to find a replacement or seek termination through the tribunal.
From a financial independence perspective, the reforms recognise that for many victim-survivors, leaving an abusive home is not only a matter of immediate safety but long-term security. By clarifying bond repayment and damage liability, the legislation attempts to reduce one key barrier to exiting a harmful tenancy arrangement.
The NSW Government’s move signals a willingness to integrate social-safety priorities into housing regulation. The measures may also have broader implications for how renters’ rights are framed in other jurisdictions, particularly in regions experiencing rental stress.
These laws provide a concrete tool for victim-survivors to act when their housing situation intersects with domestic violence. Whether they are sufficient to address the full complexity of victim-survivors’ needs remains to be seen, but they represent a meaningful shift away from a system that often left renters trapped between danger and debt.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
Donate To The Indian Sun
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun is an independent organisation committed to community journalism. We have, through the years, been able to reach a wide audience especially with the growth of social media, where we also have a strong presence. With platforms such as YouTube videos, we have been able to engage in different forms of storytelling. However, the past few years, like many media organisations around the world, it has not been an easy path. We have a greater challenge. We believe community journalism is very important for a multicultural country like Australia. We’re not able to do everything, but we aim for some of the most interesting stories and journalism of quality. We call upon readers like you to support us and make any contribution. Do make a DONATION NOW so we can continue with the volume and quality journalism that we are able to practice.
Thank you for your support.
Best wishes,
Team The Indian Sun
