The Residential tenancy amendment bill aims to strengthen tenants rights, bringing more changes for landlords. All landlords, including boarding house landlords, must comply with the laws in the Residential Tenancies Act. This is in addition to the Healthy Homes Standards, which aims to provide tenants with warmer, healthier and drier homes.

Phase 1

The changes have already begun with Phase 1 already in force as of the 12th August 2020. These main changes were;

• Transitional and emergency housing is exempt from the Act provided the housing is funded by a government department or provided under the Special Needs Grants Programme

• Rent can only be increased every 12 months

Phase 2

Phase 2 comes into play from the 11th February 2021 which yields multiple changes to tenancy legislation including;

• Security of rental tenure

• Changes for fixed-term tenancies

• Making minor changes

• Prohibitions on rental bidding

• Fibre broadband

• Privacy and access to justice

• Assignment of tenancies

• Landlord records

• Enforcement measures being strengthened

• Changes to Tenancy Tribunal jurisdiction

For more specific information visit the Tenancy Services website.

In addition to the changes implemented in Phase 1 and Phase 2, there is a Phase 3 to come later this year on the 11th August which focuses on tenants experiencing various forms of domestic violence. Over the past couple of years there have been many changes in the world of renting and investment properties which can be difficult to keep up with.