Discussion Paper - Review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1999

The NT Government is seeking feedback and submissions on proposed legal reforms to the rental market across the Northern Territory.

The Department of the Attorney-General and Justice has developed a discussion paper on proposed reforms to the NT’s Residential Tenancies Act 1999 which has been operating for 18 years. The paper covers topics raised and considered in an earlier Issues Paper released in 2010 and other issues that have arisen since.

Over that time there has been a shift in rental patterns from renting on a short term basis before buying a home, to renting for a longer period with some tenants potentially never moving out of the rental market.

The Northern Territory has the highest average weekly rent and the highest level of people renting in Australia and while the Act provides a guiding framework for interactions between landlords and tenants, it will not on its own drive adaptation to the changes occurring in the rental market.

Feedback from all participants in the rental market is needed to ensure stakeholders have an opportunity to be heard including landlords, their agents, and tenants.

Discussion Paper - Review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 PDF (1.1 MB)

Discussion Paper - Review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 DOCX (344.1 KB)

Feedback can be as simple as an email or a full written submission.

Making a submission

Closing date for submissions is 25 August 2019.

Electronic copies of submissions are preferred.

Please send submissions to: Policy.AGD@nt.gov.au

Postal:

Director, Legal Policy
Department of the Attorney-General and Justice
GPO Box 1722
DARWIN NT 0801