Residential tenancies
IMPORTANT NOTICE: There has been important temporary changes to both the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 and the Business Tenancies (Fair Dealings) Act 2003 that may impact the advice and information provided on this page.
It is important that you first read a full explanation of these changes before you read or download information from this page. The new changes can be found here. If you need help determining how these changes affect your personal circumstances, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on (08) 8999 1999 or 1800 019 319.
Consumer Affairs provides advice to tenants and landlord/agents of residential properties in the Northern Territory. The legislative rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords are outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act 1999.
The landlord/tenant relationship is usually harmonious but difficulties do arise, and sometimes landlords and tenants have different ideas of their respective rights and responsibilities.
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 Northern Territory Residential Tenancies Act 1999. It is important to note that this information is not the Act itself.
Read the Guide to Renting in the Northern Territory
Keeping Pets in a Rental Property
Changes to the Northern Territory 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.
Learn more about keeping pets in rental properties here:
| Title | PDF file | Word file |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping Pets in Rental Property Factsheet | PDF (727.4 KB) | DOCX (437.7 KB) |
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 Northern Territory 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.
Below is a guide for both Landlords and Tenants:
| Title | PDF file | Word file |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord Factsheet | PDF (492.4 KB) | DOCX (435.6 KB) |
| Tenant Factsheet | PDF (489.6 KB) | DOCX (436.4 KB) |
Tenancy - Water Charges
Landlords are allowed to pass on the full cost of water consumption provided:
- the rental premises are individually metered, and
- the tenancy agreement states the tenant must pay for water consumption.
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
Notices
| Form No. | Title | PDF file | Word file |
|---|---|---|---|
| RT03 | Notice to Remedy Unpaid Rent | PDF (721.2 KB) | DOC (277.5 KB) |
| RT04a | Notice to Remedy Breach by Landlord | PDF (713.6 KB) | DOC (272.0 KB) |
| RT04b | Notice to Remedy Breach by Tenant | PDF (720.2 KB) | DOC (272.0 KB) |
| RT05 | Notice by Landlord to Terminate | PDF (720.5 KB) | DOC (284.5 KB) |
| RT06 | Notice by Tenant to Terminate | PDF (718.9 KB) | DOC (283.5 KB) |
| RT07 | Withdrawal of Termination Notice | PDF (555.7 KB) | DOC (132.0 KB) |
| RT08 | Intention to Retain Deposit & Stat Dec | PDF (739.7 KB) | DOC (300.5 KB) |
| RT09 | Notice of Entry by Landlord | PDF (735.8 KB) | DOC (291.0 KB) |
| RT10 | Notice of Rent or Bond Increase | PDF (709.3 KB) | DOC (267.5 KB) |
| RT11 | Notice of Storage of Goods | PDF (566.8 KB) | DOC (132.0 KB) |
| RT12 | Unclaimed Tenancy Bond Claim Form | PDF (449.1 KB) | DOC (131.0 KB) |
Applications
From 1 June 2015, applications in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act are heard by the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (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: www.ntcat.nt.gov.au
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
Brochures
| Title | PDF file | Word file |
|---|---|---|
| Breaking a Lease Early | PDF (704.0 KB) | DOC (60.0 KB) |
| Moving Out of Home | PDF (638.1 KB) | DOC (143.5 KB) |
| Rent Bidding | PDF (640.3 KB) | DOCX (435.2 KB) |
| Repairs and Maintenance of Rental Properties | PDF (600.8 KB) | DOC (60.0 KB) |
| Share Houses | PDF (484.1 KB) | DOC (60.0 KB) |
Fact Sheets
| Title | PDF file | Word file |
|---|---|---|
| Abandoned Goods | PDF (854.3 KB) | DOCX (441.5 KB) |
| Boarders, Lodgers and Sub Tenants | PDF (740.5 KB) | DOCX (436.0 KB) |
| Breaking a Tenancy Lease Early | PDF (877.7 KB) | DOCX (440.8 KB) |
| Moving out before a Shared Tenancy ends | PDF (615.8 KB) | DOCX (433.9 KB) |
| Rent Bidding | PDF (640.3 KB) | DOCX (435.2 KB) |
| Repairs | PDF (867.2 KB) | DOCX (446.1 KB) |
| Resolving Common Tenancy Disputes | PDF (870.7 KB) | DOCX (446.0 KB) |
| Sharing a property | PDF (626.5 KB) | DOCX (435.7 KB) |
| Security Deposits (Bonds) | PDF (610.3 KB) | DOCX (434.6 KB) |
| Unclaimed Residential Tenancy Bonds | PDF (614.5 KB) | DOCX (434.5 KB) |
| What Tenants Should Know About Renting | PDF (861.2 KB) | DOCX (439.5 KB) |
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Determinations
Selected Determinations from 2006 on are available on a national database of legal cases from the link: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/#nt
Earlier Determinations are available from the Office of the Commissioner of Tenancies. Contact Consumer Affairs on 1800 019 319.