The Housing NSW creates written residential tenancy agreements with each tenant at the beginning of their tenancy. When Housing NSW signs a client to a residential tenancy agreement it does this in accordance with the requirements of the Residential Tenancies Act.
Housing NSW will explain its and the client’s obligations under the agreement during the sign-up process. In addition, Housing NSW will not sign a residential tenancy agreement with a client who is under 18 years of age unless the tenancy agreement has been explained to them by a solicitor or representative of the public trustee.
The sign-ups policy aims to ensure that tenants of properties managed by Housing NSW are aware of and understand the terms of their residential tenancy agreement.
Housing NSW regards the sign-up process as an important opportunity to provide clients with information they will need once they move into the premises.
Length of residential tenancy agreement
Housing NSW offers residential tenancy agreements of different lengths depending on the circumstances of the client, the general policy applying at the time they are offered housing and any specific conditions that may be attached to the particular offer of housing. The length of tenancy offered by Housing NSW is a non-negotiable condition of the offer, see Offering a property to a client.
Changes to Leases from October 2006
Since 23 October 2006, most new tenants entering public housing are offered a fixed term lease of 2, 5 or 10 years in length. Fixed term leases are reviewed before they end to decide if an extension to the lease should be offered and if so, how long it should be. For more information see the fact sheet Changes to Public Housing Leases.