Landlord – Termination of Tenancy Legislation

Termination of Tenancy Legislation

Many landlords will be aware there was a round of changes to the Residential Tenancy Act, which came into force on 11 February 2021.

Landlords cannot end a periodic tenancy without cause by providing 90 days notice. New termination grounds are available to landlords under a periodic tenancy, and the required notice periods have changed.

All fixed-term tenancy agreements will convert to periodic tenancies at the end of the fixed term unless the parties agree otherwise, the tenant gives a 28-day notice, or the landlord gives notice in accordance with the termination grounds for periodic tenancies.

In effect, this means that even though landlords may have a Fixed Term end date, landlords still need to give 90 days notice (which cannot be without cause) if intending to sell or doing major renovations and 63 days notice if immediate family are moving into the house. Termination on other grounds is required to follow the specific procedure/time frames in the Act.