Homelessness legal service says stronger new rental protections for DV victim-survivors must be backed by action 

• The Residential Tenancies Amendment (Domestic Violence Reform) Bill 2025 has passed the NSW Parliament, strengthening protections for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence who are renters. 

• Domestic and family violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women (Homelessness Australia 2024).  

• In NSW, people experiencing domestic and family violence are 20 times more likely to seek help from homelessness services than others in the community (NSW Government 2023).  

• The Homeless Persons’ Legal Service is a specialist community legal service helping people avoid or exit homelessness. Its Women’s Service has supported hundreds of women experiencing or at risk of homelessness because of domestic and family violence. 

• The new protections include: 

• removing the requirement for DV victim-survivors to notify co-tenants of their intention to break a lease, recognising the DV perpetrator may be a co-tenant. 

• clarifying that victim-survivors will not be liable for property damage carried out by a DV perpetrator where the damage occurs in conjunction with conduct that would reasonably be considered to be domestic abuse. 

• allowing tenants to immediately change locks without permission where there is a reasonable belief it is necessary to prevent a domestic violence offence or domestic abuse.  

• making it easier for victim-survivors to access their share of the bond after leaving a tenancy because of DV. 

Quotes attributable to Kira Levin, Principal Solicitor of the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service at the Justice and Equity Centre (JEC) 

‘Our service has helped hundreds of women who have been made homeless or put at risk of becoming homeless because of domestic violence.  

‘These changes to tenancy laws strengthen protections for victim-survivors and improve their capacity to escape or avoid domestic violence.  

‘Many women have only been able to escape a violent partner by giving up their home, which often means losing their bond, being saddled with crushing debts and being blacklisted as a bad tenant. These changes will go some way to helping women in those situations. 

‘Passing these laws was an important step. Now the NSW Government needs to get on with the critical work of ensuring that people experiencing domestic violence know their rights and have the support they need to take action that will keep them safe. 

‘Government must fund essential domestic violence support services like emergency accommodation, caseworkers and legal services. People in crisis because of domestic and family violence will need support to use these new protections, to keep themselves and their families safe.’  

‘Many victim-survivors are forced to stay in unsafe situations because they literally have nowhere else to go. For these protections to be effective, the NSW Government must increase the availability of social and affordable housing for people in need of a safe home.’ 

Kira is available for further comment and can talk about the experiences of our clients.  

Media contact:  
Communications Coordinator, Seamus May: 0478 739 280