Changes to NSW tenancy laws are coming.

Renting a house is a great a way to live affordably and it’s even better if you split the costs with a few housemates. However, it’s important to ask the right questions before signing a lease. Renting houses takes practice and can often mean learning from costly mistakes. Avoid falling into the traps that come with being an inexperienced renter by asking these seven questions before signing a lease.

When you move into your rental property, the landlord or property manager must have ensured the premises are habitable and in a reasonable state of cleanliness and repair.

You must keep the property clean and tidy and, at the end of your tenancy, hand it back in a similar condition to how it was at the start of your agreement, taking into account normal use (fair wear and tear).

Depending on the circumstances, your landlord or property manager may offer you a fixed-term or periodic tenancy lease agreement. All written tenancy agreements must be done using the Residential Tenancy Agreement.

There are a number of reasons why a tenancy ends, other than a disagreement. You may be looking to buy your own property, move in with a friend or, in some instances, the landlord may want to sell the property. Below are the correct ways to cease the tenancy agreement.