RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT 1987

New South Wales Consolidated Acts

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RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT 1987 - NOTES

- As at 17 July 2009 - Act 26 of 1987

Reprint history:

Reprint No 1   18 January 1990
Reprint No 2   15 April 1993
Reprint No 3   26 October 1995
Reprint No 4   12 January 1999
Reprint No 5   23 May 2000
Reprint No 6   1 October 2002
Reprint No 7   24 May 2005
Reprint No 8   15 May 2007

Historical notes

The following abbreviations are used in the Historical notes:

Am	amended	LW	legislation website	Sch	Schedule
Cl	clause	No	number	Schs	Schedules
Cll	clauses	p	page	Sec	section
Div	Division	pp	pages	Secs	sections
Divs	Divisions	Reg	Regulation	Subdiv	Subdivision
GG	Government Gazette	Regs	Regulations	Subdivs	Subdivisions
Ins	inserted	Rep	repealed	Subst	substituted

Table of amending instruments

Residential Tenancies Act 1987 No 26. Assented to 12.5.1987. Date of commencement, secs 1, 2, 3, 118, 119 and 137 and Sch 2 excepted, 30.10.1989, sec 2 and GG No 100 of 13.10.1989, p 8285; date of commencement of secs 118 and 119, 19.6.1989, sec 2 (2) and GG No 73 of 16.6.1989, p 3500. This Act has been amended as follows:

1987	No 48	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 1) 1987. Assented to 28.5.1987. Date of commencement of Sch 29, assent, sec 2 (9) (a).
	No 206	Consumer Claims Tribunals Act 1987. Assented to 8.12.1987. Date of commencement, 1.3.1988, sec 2 and GG No 41 of 26.2.1988, p 1150.
	No 209	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 1987. Assented to 9.12.1987. Date of commencement of Sch 44, except as provided by sec 2 (4) and (6), assent, sec 2 (1).
1989	No 4	Residential Tenancies (Further Amendment) Act 1989. Assented to 21.3.1989. Date of commencement, 30.10.1989, sec 2 and GG No 100 of 13.10.1989, p 8284.
	No 73	Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 1989. Assented to 2.6.1989. Date of commencement, sec 4 and Sch 1 (1) (a), (c) and (d), (19) and (20) excepted, 30.10.1989, sec 2 and GG No 100 of 13.10.1989, p 8282; date of commencement of sec 4, assent, sec 2 (2); date of commencement of Sch 1 (1) (a), (c) and (d), (19) and (20), 19.6.1989, sec 2 (1) and GG No 73 of 16.6.1989, p 3500.
1991	No 17	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1991. Assented to 3.5.1991. Date of commencement of the provisions of Sch 1 relating to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987, assent, sec 2.
	No 36	Residential Tenancies (Movable Dwellings) Amendment Act 1991. Assented to 20.11.1991. Date of commencement, 30.3.1992, sec 2 and GG No 40 of 27.3.1992, p 1981.
	No 94	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 1991. Assented to 17.12.1991. Date of commencement of the provisions of Sch 1 relating to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987, assent, Sch 1.
1992	No 111	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 3) 1992. Assented to 8.12.1992. Date of commencement of the provision of Sch 2 relating to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987, assent, Sch 2.
1994	No 94	Residential Tenancies (Caravan Parks and Manufactured Home Estates) Amendment Act 1994. Assented to 12.12.1994. Date of commencement, 16.12.1994, sec 2 and GG No 170 of 16.12.1994, p 7397.
1995	No 11	Statute Law Revision (Local Government) Act 1995. Assented to 9.6.1995. Date of commencement of the provisions of Sch 1 relating to the Residential Tenancies Act 1987, 23.6.1995, sec 2 (1) and GG No 77 of 23.6.1995, p 3279.
1996	No 24	Financial Institutions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1996. Assented to 21.6.1996. Date of commencement, 12.7.1996, sec 2 and GG No 84 of 12.7.1996, p 3984.
	No 79	Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 1996. Assented to 1.11.1996. Date of commencement, 22.11.1996, sec 2 and GG No 134 of 22.11.1996, p 7585.
1997	No 119	Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act 1997. Assented to 9.12.1997. Date of commencement of Sch 2, 29.6.1998, sec 2 and GG No 97 of 26.6.1998, p 4429.
1998	No 47	Aboriginal Housing Act 1998. Assented to 26.6.1998. Date of commencement, 24.7.1998, sec 2 and GG No 112 of 24.7.1998, p 5601.
	No 60	Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 1998. Assented to 30.6.1998. Date of commencement, 1.9.1998, sec 2 and GG No 123 of 21.8.1998, p 6173.
	No 120	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 1998. Assented to 26.11.1998. Date of commencement of Sch 1.39, assent, sec 2 (2).
	No 126	Residential Tenancies Amendment (Social Housing) Act 1998. Assented to 26.11.1998. Date of commencement, 1.1.1999, sec 2 and GG No 176 of 18.12.1998, p 9725.
	No 142	Residential Parks Act 1998. Assented to 8.12.1998. Date of commencement of Sch 2, Sch 2 [24] excepted, 1.3.1999, sec 2 (1) and GG No 25 of 26.2.1999, p 976; Sch 2 [24] was not commenced and was repealed by the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999 No 31. Amended by Residential Tribunal Act 1998 No 168 as amended by Residential Parks Act 1998 No 142. Assented to 8.12.1998. Sch 3.4 [2] to the extent that it inserts Sch 4.4A [4] and [5] in the Residential Tribunal Act 1998 was not commenced and was repealed by the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999 No 31.
	No 168	Residential Tribunal Act 1998. Assented to 14.12.1998. Date of commencement of Sch 4.5, 1.3.1999, sec 2 and GG No 25 of 26.2.1999, p 977. Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999 No 31. Assented to 7.7.1999. Date of commencement of Sch 1.42, assent, sec 2 (2).
1999	No 81	Retirement Villages Act 1999. Assented to 3.12.1999. Date of commencement of Sch 3.5, 1.7.2000, sec 2 (1) and GG No 62 of 26.5.2000, p 4246.
	No 85	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 1999. Assented to 3.12.1999. Date of commencement of Sch 2.54, assent, sec 2 (2).
	No 94	Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sentencing) Act 1999. Assented to 8.12.1999. Date of commencement of sec 7 and Sch 5, 1.1.2000, sec 2 (1) and GG No 144 of 24.12.1999, p 12184.
2000	No 53	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2000. Assented to 29.6.2000. Date of commencement of Sch 1.24, assent, sec 2 (2).
	No 93	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2000. Assented to 8.12.2000. Date of commencement of Sch 1.21, assent, sec 2 (2).
2001	No 52	Housing Act 2001. Assented to 17.7.2001. Date of commencement, 1.7.2001, sec 2.
	No 56	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001. Assented to 17.7.2001. Date of commencement of Sch 1.16, assent, sec 2 (2).
	No 82	Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal Act 2001. Assented to 21.11.2001. Date of commencement of Sch 7.17, 25.2.2002, sec 2 (1) and GG No 48 of 22.2.2002, p 901.
	No 111	Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2001. Assented to 14.12.2001. Date of commencement, assent, sec 2.
2002	No 88	Holiday Parks (Long-term Casual Occupation) Act 2002. Assented to 20.11.2002. Date of commencement, 28.2.2003, sec 2 and GG No 54 of 28.2.2003, p 3506.
2004	No 66	Residential Tenancies Amendment (Public Housing) Act 2004. Assented to 6.7.2004. Date of commencement of Sch 1 [1] [3]-[5] and [9], 6.12.2004, sec 2 and GG No 195 of 3.12.2004, p 8887; Sch 1 [2] was not commenced and was repealed by the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Social Housing) Act 2005 No 79; date of commencement of Sch 1 [6]-[8], 9.7.2007, sec 2 and GG No 83 of 29.6.2007, p 3966. Amended by Residential Tenancies Amendment (Social Housing) Act 2005 No 79. Assented to 26.10.2005. Date of commencement of Sch 2.4, assent, sec 2 (2).
	No 91	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2004. Assented to 10.12.2004. Date of commencement of Sch 2.69, assent, sec 2 (2).
	No 114	Teaching Services Amendment Act 2004. Assented to 21.12.2004. Date of commencement, 17.1.2005, sec 2 and GG No 7 of 14.1.2005, p 97.
2005	No 57	Building Legislation Amendment (Smoke Alarms) Act 2005. Assented to 1.7.2005. Date of commencement, 1.5.2006, sec 2.
	No 79	Residential Tenancies Amendment (Social Housing) Act 2005. Assented to 26.10.2005. Date of commencement of Sch 1, 28.11.2005, sec 2 (1) and GG No 142 of 25.11.2005, p 9655.
2006	No 58	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006. Assented to 20.6.2006. Date of commencement of Sch 2.44, assent, sec 2 (2).
	No 120	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2006. Assented to 4.12.2006. Date of commencement of Sch 1, assent, sec 2 (2).
2007	No 48	Housing Amendment (Community Housing Providers) Act 2007. Assented to 1.11.2007. Date of commencement, 1.5.2009, sec 2 and 2009 (142) LW 1.5.2009.
	No 94	Miscellaneous Acts (Local Court) Amendment Act 2007. Assented to 13.12.2007. Date of commencement of Schs 2 and 4, 6.7.2009, sec 2 and 2009 (314) LW 3.7.2009.
2009	No 40	Residential Tenancies Amendment (Mortgagee Repossessions) Act 2009. Assented to 19.6.2009. Date of commencement, assent, sec 2.
	No 56	Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Assented to 1.7.2009. Date of commencement of Sch 1.36, 17.7.2009, sec 2 (2).

Table of amendments

Long title	Am 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [1]; 2001 No 82, Sch 7.17 [1].
Sec 3	Am 1987 No 209, Sch 44; 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (1); 1991 No 17, Sch 1; 1991 No 36, Sch 1 (1); 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (2); 1995 No 11, Sch 1; 1997 No 119, Sch 2.21; 1998 No 120, Sch 1.39 [1]; 1998 No 126, Sch 1 [1]; 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [1]; 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [2]; 2000 No 53, Sch 1.24 [1]; 2001 No 52, Sch 1.10; 2001 No 82, Sch 7.17 [2]; 2004 No 66, Sch 1 [1]; 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [1]; 2007 No 48, Sch 2.3.
Sec 4	Am 1998 No 47, Sch 2.8 [1].
Sec 6	Am 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [2]; 1999 No 81, Sch 3.5; 2006 No 120, Sch 1.25 [1] [2].
Sec 7	Am 1991 No 36, Sch 1 (2); 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (3) (a). Subst 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [3]. Am 2002 No 88, Sch 2.4; 2004 No 91, Sch 2.69.
Sec 7, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (3) (b). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [3].
Sec 9A	Ins 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [2].
Sec 10	Am 1991 No 36, Sch 1 (3).
Sec 12	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (2).
Sec 14A	Ins 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [3].
Sec 16	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (3); 1991 No 17, Sch 1.
Sec 16, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (4). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [4].
Part 3, Div 1, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (5). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [5].
Sec 17	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (4).
Sec 19	Am 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [4].
Secs 19A, 19B	Ins 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [5].
Sec 23	Am 1998 No 126, Sch 1 [2].
Sec 24	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (5); 2005 No 57, Sch 2 [1] [2].
Sec 27	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (6).
Sec 28	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (7).
Sec 29A	Ins 2005 No 57, Sch 2 [3].
Sec 32	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (8).
Part 3, Div 2, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (6). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [6].
Sec 33	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (9); 1991 No 36, Sch 1 (4); 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [7].
Sec 33, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (7). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [8].
Part 3, Div 3	Ins 1991 No 36, Sch 1 (5). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [9]. Ins 2004 No 66, Sch 1 [3].
Sec 35A	Ins 1991 No 36, Sch 1 (5). Am 1995 No 11, Sch 1. Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [9]. Ins 2004 No 66, Sch 1 [3].
Secs 35B, 35C	Ins 1991 No 36, Sch 1 (5). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [9].
Sec 38	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (10).
Sec 40	Am 1996 No 24, Sch 1.
Sec 44	Am 1998 No 126, Sch 1 [3].
Sec 44, note	Ins 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [6].
Sec 45	Am 1991 No 94, Sch 1.
Sec 45A	Ins 2001 No 56, Sch 1.16 [1].
Sec 47A	Ins 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [7].
Sec 48	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (11).
Sec 49	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (12); 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [8]-[11].
Sec 53	Am 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (8); 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [10].
Part 5, Div 2, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (9). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [11].
Sec 56, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (10). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [12].
Sec 57, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (11). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [13].
Sec 57A	Ins 2004 No 66, Sch 1 [4]. Renumbered as sec 63I, 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [13].
Sec 58	Am 1991 No 36, Sch 1 (6); 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [14].
Sec 58, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (12). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [15].
Sec 59	Am 1991 No 36, Sch 1 (7); 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [16].
Sec 60	Am 1991 No 36, Sch 1 (8); 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [17].
Sec 60, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (13). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [18].
Sec 61	Am 2001 No 56, Sch 1.16 [2].
Sec 61, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (14). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [19].
Sec 63	Am 1989 No 4, sec 3.
Part 5, Div 2A	Ins 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [12].
Secs 63A-63H	Ins 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [12].
Sec 63I (previously sec 57A)	Ins 2004 No 66, Sch 1 [4]. Renumbered 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [13].
Sec 64	Am 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (15); 1998 No 126, Sch 1 [4]; 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [20] [21]; 2004 No 66, Sch 1 [5]-[7]; 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [14]-[22].
Sec 65	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (13).
Sec 66	Am 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [23].
Sec 67	Am 1998 No 120, Sch 1.39 [2].
Sec 68	Am 1998 No 126, Sch 1 [5].
Sec 68A	Ins 2004 No 66, Sch 1 [8].
Sec 69	Am 1998 No 60, Sch 1 [1] [2].
Sec 69, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (16). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [22].
Sec 69A	Ins 1998 No 60, Sch 1 [3].
Sec 71	Am 2007 No 94, Sch 2.
Sec 71A	Ins 2009 No 40, Sch 1 [1].
Sec 72	Am 2009 No 40, Sch 1 [2].
Sec 73	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (14); 1998 No 126, Sch 1 [6].
Sec 79A	Ins 1996 No 79, Sch 1 [1]. Am 2000 No 93, Sch 1.21.
Sec 79B	Ins 1996 No 79, Sch 1 [1].
Part 6, heading	Subst 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [3].
Part 6, Div 1	Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [4].
Sec 80	Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [4].
Sec 81	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (15). Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [4].
Sec 82	Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [4].
Part 6, Div 2, heading	Subst 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [5].
Sec 83	Am 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [6] (am 1999 No 31, Sch 1.42 [5]).
Sec 84	Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [6].
Sec 85, note	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (17). Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [23].
Part 6, Div 3, heading	Subst 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [7].
Secs 86-92	Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [8].
Secs 93, 94	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (16). Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [8].
Sec 95	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (16); 1999 No 85, Sch 2.54 [1].
Secs 96-98	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (16).
Secs 99-103	Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [8].
Sec 104	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (16). Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [8].
Secs 105-115	Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [8].
Sec 116	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (17). Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [8].
Sec 117	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (16). Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [8].
Part 7, heading	Ins 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (18).
Secs 117A, 117B	Ins 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (19).
Sec 118	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (20); 2009 No 56, Sch 1.36 [1] [2].
Sec 119	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (20).
Secs 119A-119D	Ins 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (21).
Sec 119E	Ins 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (21). Am 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [25].
Part 8, heading	Ins 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (22).
Sec 120A	Ins 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (23).
Sec 122	Rep 1998 No 168, Sch 4.5 [9].
Sec 123	Rep 2006 No 120, Sch 1.25 [3].
Sec 124	Am 1999 No 85, Sch 2.54 [2] [3]; 2006 No 120, Sch 1.25 [3]; 2007 No 94, Schs 2, 4.
Sec 125	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (24); 1992 No 111, Sch 2; 1999 No 85, Sch 2.54 [4].
Sec 129	Am 1987 No 48, Sch 29; 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [26]. Rep 2000 No 53, Sch 1.24 [2].
Sec 130	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (25); 2006 No 120, Sch 1.25 [3]; 2009 No 40, Sch 1 [3].
Sec 131	Rep 1989 No 73 Sch 1 (26).
Sec 132	Am 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (27); 1998 No 47, Sch 2.8 [2] [3]; 2001 No 111, Sch 1 [1]; 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [24] [25].
Sec 133	Am 2006 No 120, Sch 1.25 [3].
Sec 135	Rep 1989 No 73, Sch 1 (28).
Sec 136	Rep 1987 No 206, Sch 2.
Sec 137	Subst 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (18).
Sch 1	Am 1991 No 17, Sch 1; 1999 No 94, sec 7 (2) and Sch 5, Part 2; 2004 No 114, Sch 2.19. Rep 2006 No 58, Sch 2.44.
Sch 3	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (19). Am 1996 No 79, Sch 1 [2]-[4]. Rep 1998 No 142, Sch 2 [27].
Sch 4, heading	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (19). Am 2001 No 111, Sch 1 [2].
Sch 4	Ins 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (19). Am 1996 No 79, Sch 1 [5] [6]; 1998 No 60, Sch 1 [4] [5]; 2001 No 111, Sch 1 [3]; 2004 No 66, Sch 1 [9]; 2005 No 57, Sch 2 [4] [5]; 2005 No 79, Sch 1 [26] [27]; 2009 No 40, Sch 1 [4].
The whole Act	Am 1994 No 94, Sch 1 (1) (“movable dwelling” and “movable dwellings” omitted wherever occurring, “moveable dwelling” and “moveable dwellings” inserted instead).