Important changes to NSW residential tenancy laws relating to domestic abuse commence on 21 September 2026. The reforms will affect several areas of property management practice, from property photography and security changes to confidentiality, termination notices and rental bonds.

The changes are designed to provide stronger protections for people experiencing domestic abuse. They also create new compliance obligations for agencies handling affected tenancies.

What is changing?

Property managers will need to understand changes covering:

  • Protections concerning property damage caused during domestic abuse where the tenant was not the perpetrator
  • New requirements affecting property photography and the advertising of photographs and visual recordings
  • The circumstances in which locks and other security devices may be altered
  • An expanded range of people who may act as a ‘competent person’
  • Updated competent-person declarations
  • Stronger confidentiality requirements
  • Revised domestic abuse termination notice procedures
  • Notification requirements concerning tenants who remain at the property
  • Temporary rent adjustments in certain circumstances
  • New processes for co-tenant rental bond contributions, repayments and disputes
  • New fields in the standard residential tenancy agreement to record each tenant’s bond contribution
  • Updated terminology, forms and penalties

Why this matters

Domestic abuse matters require careful handling, prompt action and strict protection of personal information. A failure to follow the new requirements could place a tenant at further risk and expose the agency to complaints, penalties or legal action.

The changes to photographs and visual recordings are particularly important. Agencies will need to check what may be photographed, retained or used in advertising when domestic abuse circumstances are involved.

The revised bond arrangements will also require changes at the beginning and end of co-tenancies. Each tenant’s contribution will need to be recorded correctly so repayments and disputes can be managed under the new provisions.

What member offices should do now

Principals should review their domestic abuse procedures before 21 September and ensure their teams understand the new requirements. This should include:

  • Updating policies, checklists, templates and termination workflows
  • Reviewing photography and advertising approval processes
  • Confirming how confidential information is received, stored and shared
  • Updating lock and security-device procedures
  • Preparing for the revised competent-person framework
  • Updating tenancy agreement and bond processes
  • Training property managers and administration staff
  • Checking that current forms and guidance are replaced when the reforms commence

These matters should have a clear internal escalation pathway. Property managers should know who to contact before taking action if the correct procedure is uncertain.