RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT 1997 - SECT 26 Residential rental agreements to be in standard form

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT 1997 - SECT 26

S. 26(1) substituted by Nos 40/2018 s. 6(1), 45/2018 s. 11(2).

    (1)     If a residential rental agreement for a fixed term not exceeding 5 years is in writing, it must be in the prescribed standard form for a fixed term residential rental agreement of no more than 5 years.

S. 26(1A) inserted by No. 40/2018 s. 6(2), amended by No. 45/2018 s. 11(3)(a).

    (1A)     A residential rental agreement for a fixed term of more than 5 years—

        (a)     must be in writing; and

S. 26(1A)(b) substituted by No. 45/2018 s. 11(3)(b).

        (b)     must be in the prescribed standard form for a fixed term residential rental agreement of more than 5 years unless it is in the form referred to in subsection (1).

S. 26(1B) inserted by No. 1/2021 s. 82.

    (1B)     If a periodic residential rental agreement is in writing it must be in the prescribed standard form for a periodic residential rental agreement.

S. 26(2) amended by Nos 67/2010 s. 91, 40/2018 s. 6(3), 45/2018 s. 11(4)(6).

    (2)     A residential rental provider or renter must not prepare or authorise the preparation of a residential rental agreement for a fixed term not exceeding 5 years in writing in a form that is not in the prescribed standard form.

Penalty:     25 penalty units.

S. 26(2A) inserted by No. 40/2018 s. 6(4), amended by No. 45/2018 s. 11(5)

(a)−(c)(6).

    (2A)     A residential rental provider or renter must not prepare or authorise the preparation of a residential rental agreement for a fixed term of more than 5 years if the agreement is not either—

S. 26(2A)(a) substituted by No. 45/2018 s. 11(5)(d).

        (a)     in the standard form for a fixed term not exceeding 5 years; or

S. 26(2A)(b) substituted by No. 45/2018 s. 11(5)(d).

        (b)     in the standard form for a fixed term of more than 5 years.

Penalty:     25 penalty units.

S. 26(3) amended by No. 45/2018 s. 11(7).

    (3)     A failure to comply with this section does not make the residential rental agreement illegal, invalid or unenforceable.

Note to s. 26 inserted by No. 38/2018 s. 297, substituted as Notes by No. 45/2018 s. 11(8) (as amended by No. 32/2020 s. 4). ^[2]

Notes

1.     Section 27C provides that terms about cleaning and safety-related repairs and related obligations may be included in a residential rental agreement in the standard form.

2.     In the case of a residential rental provider who is an SDA provider providing an SDA enrolled dwelling to an SDA resident, see Division 2 of Part 12A.

S. 26A (Heading) substituted by No. 45/2018 s. 12(1) (as amended by No. 1/2021 s. 88(1)).

S. 26A inserted by No. 40/2018 s. 7.