New law boosts tenants' rights

A sweeping new tenancy rights law is coming into effect, giving more power and protection to tenants. Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 are being greeted as the biggest tenancy law reform in 35 years. Key among the changes, landlords will have fewer grounds to evict people, while tenants also gain the ability to personalise a house to make it feel more like home. Tenants' advocates have reported landlords evicting "troublesome" tenants before the new rules come into place. Kathryn Ryan speaks with MBIE's National Manager Tenancy Compliance and Investigations & Information and Education Steve Watson, and Renters United organiser Robert Whittaker.