Renting in the NT

Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 (Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2023) - commencing 2 January 2024

Background/purpose

The Residential Tenancies Act 1999 has been in operation for over 20 years. Overall, government is satisfied that the Act continues to balance the interests of landlords and tenants in the Northern Territory (NT). However, the changing landscape of housing means that government needs to ensure that the Act remains fit for purpose for the contemporary environment.

In 2019, government undertook a comprehensive root and branch review of the Act. As government and stakeholders worked though the issues identified through the 2019 review, tranche 1 of the reform program was implemented through the Residential Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill 2020.

This Bill, the Residential Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill 2023, delivers tranche 2 of the reform program, implementing measures that enhance protections and options for victims of domestic and family violence (DVF), and address other emerging issues facing tenants identified by stakeholders in the Residential Tenancies Act Review Working Group, and National Cabinet.

Changes included in the Bill

Enhanced protections and options for victims of DFV

Confirming what a tenant is, and is not, required to pay

Protection of a tenant’s personal information

Realigning no‑cause termination provisions

Clarifying the process for tenants changing locks and making safety and security modifications

Enabling electronic service of notices

TitlePDF
Clarification of and enhancement to general landlord rights and responsibilities under the tenancy agreement PDF (811.6 KB)
Establishing experience of DFV - flow chart PDF (290.3 KB)
Enhanced protections and options for victims of DFV - fact sheet PDF (628.9 KB)
Prohibition on rent bidding - flow chart PDF (370.8 KB)
Protection of tenant information - flow chart PDF (283.5 KB)
Termination due to experience of DFV - flow chart PDF (439.2 KB)
Information for Rental Applications PDF (367.4 KB)

Update on rental tenancy changes due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions put some Territorians into financial difficulties. This resulted in the NT Government examining the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 and the Business Tenancies (Fair Dealings) Act 2003 to assist renters remaining in their rental properties for the duration of this crisis.

These measures generally cease at 11:59pm on 15 June 2022, as the declaration of public health emergency ends at that time.

Tenancy agreements signed on or after 16 June 2022 will be governed solely by the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 and as detailed in the guide to renting in the Northern Territory PDF (3.2 MB) .

However, the modifications to the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 that existed during the COVID-19 public health emergency will generally continue to apply to those tenancy agreements that were signed before 16 June 2022, until the tenancy ends.

A guide to renting in the Northern Territory

This guide is to give landlords and tenants an overview of their rights and responsibilities under the NT Residential Tenancies Act 1999. It is important to note that this information is not the Act itself.

Guide to renting in Northern Territory

Keeping pets in a rental property

Changes to the NT Residential Tenancies Act 1999 commence on 1 January 2021. Some of these changes focus on keeping pets in residential rental properties in the NT.

Previously, the tenant and the landlord negotiated allowing pets as part of the lease agreement. The new changes allow pet ownership, conditional on the type of pet being reasonable for the type and size of the rental property. The changes only apply to lease agreements signed after 1 January 2021 and include having to notify the landlord prior to bringing the pet onto the rental property.

Tenancy databases

A tenancy database (or blacklist as it is more commonly known) is a list used by landlords to record personal information about the rental history of their tenants should they default on their tenancy agreement. New NT tenancy database legislation commenced as of 1 July 2018 and helps regulate how entries into these databases are managed and help protect the rights of tenants. The tenancy database legislative rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords are outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act 1999.

Below is a guide for both landlords and tenants:

Title PDF file
Landlord fact sheet PDF (364.0 KB)
Tenant fact sheet PDF (364.0 KB)

Tenancy - water charges

Landlords are allowed to pass on the full cost of water consumption provided:

However, a landlord cannot ask a tenant to pay for charges, levies, rates or taxes, other than a charge payable by the owner or occupier of the premises for electricity, gas or water supplied to the premises.

For general advice about residential tenancies please contact our office on 08 8999 1999 or by email at consumer@nt.gov.au.

Forms and notices

Form No.Title PDF file Word file
RT03 Notice to remedy unpaid rent PDF (717.4 KB) DOC (280.5 KB)
RT04a Notice to remedy breach by landlord PDF (713.5 KB) DOC (274.0 KB)
RT04b Notice to remedy breach by tenant PDF (709.8 KB) DOC (274.0 KB)
RT05 Notice of intention to terminate tenancy agreement by landlord/agent PDF (723.7 KB) DOC (292.0 KB)
RT06 Notice of intention to terminate tenancy agreement by tenant PDF (723.7 KB) DOC (290.5 KB)
RT06a Notice of intention to terminate tenancy agreement by tenant to landlord due to experienced domestic violence PDF (721.1 KB) DOC (283.0 KB)
RT06b Notice of intention to terminate tenancy agreement by tenant to co-tenants due to experienced domestic violence PDF (726.9 KB) DOC (282.5 KB)
RT06c Notice of intention to terminate tenancy agreement by co-tenants to landlord due to tenant termination notice PDF (715.9 KB) DOC (279.5 KB)
RT07 Withdrawal of termination notice PDF (551.7 KB) DOC (133.5 KB)
RT08 Intention to retain deposit and stat dec PDF (734.5 KB) DOCX (56.1 KB)
RT09 Notice of entry by landlord PDF (717.4 KB)
RT10 Notice of rent or bond increase PDF (707.3 KB) DOC (272.0 KB)
RT11 Notice of storage of goods PDF (561.3 KB) DOC (133.0 KB)
RT12 Unclaimed tenancy bond claim form PDF (549.1 KB) DOC (132.5 KB)
RT13 Notice by landlord to tenant of intention to list personal information on a tenancy database PDF (718.3 KB) DOC (119.5 KB)
RT14Certificate establishing experience of domestic violence PDF (711.3 KB) DOC (124.5 KB)

Applications

From 1 June 2015, applications in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 are heard by the NTCAT. Applications are required to be lodged on a NTCAT form.

This form, as well as advice on NTCAT procedures and processes, can be found on the NTCAT website.

Northern Territory Consumer Affairs will continue to provide assistance with information and advice on all tenancies matters and notices, excluding residential tenancy applications and processes.

Legislation

Fact sheets

Title PDF file
Abandoned goods PDF (333.2 KB)
Boarders, lodgers and sub tenants PDF (251.1 KB)
Breaking or ending a lease early PDF (338.6 KB)
Moving out before a shared tenancy ends PDF (208.2 KB)
Moving out of home PDF (286.6 KB)
Rent bidding PDF (193.5 KB)
Repairs PDF (209.1 KB)
Repairs and maintenance of rental properties PDF (250.4 KB)
Resolving common tenancy disputes PDF (347.4 KB)
Share houses PDF (250.6 KB)
Sharing a property PDF (250.6 KB)
Security deposits (bonds) PDF (209.5 KB)
Unclaimed residential tenancy bonds PDF (196.9 KB)
What tenants should know about renting PDF (289.8 KB)

Did you receive your bond money back?

If not - then read more about owed rental bond monies?

Determinations

Selected Determinations from 2006 on are available on a national database of legal cases, go to the AustLII website.

Earlier Determinations are available from the Office of the Commissioner of Tenancies. Contact Consumer Affairs on 1800 019 319.