Can I change the tenants on the lease?

A General Tenancy Agreement is a legally binding agreement outlining the terms that a Tenant can occupy a property.  Approval must be obtained by the Property Manager if:

• A Tenant terminates their occupancy of the premises
• It is proposed that a new Tenant/s reside at the premises

How do I request to terminate my occupancy at the premises

Ending an agreement early will be deemed a break lease.  If it is broken, compensation will need to be paid. 

A Tenant who is wishing to terminate their occupancy at the premises must provide a Form 13 Notice of Intention to Leave.  Until this notice is served, the notice period lapsed, and the keys are returned, the Tenant will be responsible for abiding to all terms and conditions of the General Tenancy Agreement.

A Tenant can propose a transfer of their interest in the property to another party.  This party must be approved by the Property Manager/ Owner.  The approval will include reviewing the individual’s living and payment history.  If this approval is not obtained, occupancy of unauthorised individuals will be deemed a significant breach, and appropriate action will be taken to rectify the issue within a specified timeframe. 

What happens to my bond?

Any change to approved Tenant/s will result in changes needing to be made to the bond contribution.  If the Tenant has paid a bond they will need to complete a Form 6 Change of Bond Contributors.   This will be submitted to the Residential Tenancies Authority.  The Tenant/s leaving will need to get their share of the bond from the Tenant/s moving in or those remaining. It is important for both the Tenant/s moving out and the Tenant/s moving in, that this change request is completed and signed. The RTA needs an accurate record of who has contributed to the bond to ensure the refund process goes smoothly at the end of a tenancy.

If there is a bond loan involved the Tenant/s must contact the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy to approve the removal of a Tenant before submitting the change request to the Residential Tenancies Authority. 

Further Information -

RTA Information – Change of Housemates

Breaking a Lease

Form 13 – Notice of Intention to Leave

Form 6 – Change of Bond Contributors

Contact – Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy