NSW Ends No-Grounds Evictions, Eases Pet Rules in Rental Reforms

New South Wales has implemented significant rental reforms that enhance protections for the state's 2.3 million renters by ending no-grounds evictions, requiring landlords to provide valid reasons for lease termination, and increasing notice periods. These reforms also make it easier for tenants to keep pets, allowing landlords to refuse only for specific causes such as non-compliance with local laws, with automatic approval if no response is given within 21 days. Additionally, renters can now pay rent through fee-free methods like direct bank transfers, increasing convenience. The reforms introduce penalties for landlords or agents who provide false eviction reasons or breach the new laws, enforced by a dedicated Rental Taskforce. State officials, including Premier Chris Minns and Minister Rose Jackson, describe these changes as the most significant in a generation, aiming to balance tenant and owner rights while providing renters greater security and stability. The government emphasizes these measures as a response to the challenges faced by renters in a tight and expensive market, recognizing pets as family members and modernizing rental practices.