Office of Fair Trading Information for Tenants

When you rent a home in NSW and become a 'renter' or a 'tenant', knowing your rights and responsibilities will help avoid or resolve differences you may have with your landlord, real estate agent, house-mates or neighbours.

Here are a few tips to help you decide which property best suits your needs and take some stress out of the experience.

  1.  Do your research and make sure the location you’ll rent in has good proximity to amenities, facilities and transport options.
  2.  Spend a bit of time when inspecting properties to check such things as street noise, water pressure, aspect, heating methods etc.
  3.  Note any faults or problems before signing. Pay attention to the condition of carpets, soft furnishings and cabinetry etc. If you do spot something wrong, make your property manager aware of these faults in writing ASAP.
  4.  Once you’re in, contact your property manager if there are subsequent problems. If cracks appear in the ceiling, the washing machine stops working or if you start to notice unpleasant odours, please let us know so we can make plans to rectify the problem.

Please click here for the New Tenant Checklist which details what you should know before signing a lease.

Relevant information for your knowledge about your tenancy include:

Bond Refunds                                     Breaking a Lease

Safety & Security                               Water Usage Bills

During a Tenancy                               Privacy when Renting

Ending a Tenancy                               Repairs

Rent Increase                                     Tenancy Agreement

Domestic Violence                              Non Payment of Rent