FACTSHEET

Eviction – landlord ends tenancy

Being told to leave your rental home is stressful. As a tenant you have rights under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 and Residential Tenancies Regulation 2019. This factsheet summarises the law in NSW about evictions and what a landlord/agent must do to end a tenancy legally.

From 19 May 2025, ‘no grounds’ evictions are unlawful in NSW. This means that the landlord must have a valid legal reason to end your tenancy. 

If the landlord wants you to leave, they must end your tenancy agreement (commonly called a 'lease'). In most cases, the landlord/agent must give you a valid termination notice, which has to include the proper number of days notice, a valid reason for ending the agreement, and evidence. If they do not follow the correct legal process, the termination may not be valid, and they could face serious penalties.

A termination notice by itself does not end your tenancy. Your tenancy ends when you give vacant possession of the premises to the landlord/agent – in other words, when you move out and return the keys.

If you do not move out by the day in the notice, the landlord can apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) for a termination order. A termination order ends the tenancy and specifies a day by which you must move out. If you do not move out by the specified day on the termination order, the landlord/agent can get a warrant for possession from the Tribunal. With this warrant, a Sheriff’s officer can remove you from the premises. See below: ‘Eviction – your rights.’

In some rare cases, the landlord can apply to the Tribunal for a termination order without giving you notice. See below: ‘What reasons can the landlord use to end my tenancy: Other extraordinary grounds.’

If the landlord stops paying their loan and the bank/lender wants to take back the property and end your tenancy, certain other rules may apply – see Resource: Mortgagee repossession.

If the landlord, agent, or Tribunal write to you about ending your tenancy it’s a good idea to seek advice from your local Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service as soon as possible.

If you received a termination notice before 19 May 2025, the old eviction laws still apply to you. It’s a good idea to seek advice. 

Check out this short animation on the changes to eviction laws in NSW...

 

Factsheet updated August 2025


This factsheet is intended as a guide to the law and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice. It applies to people who live in, or are affected by, the law as it applies in New South Wales, Australia.
© Tenants’ Union of NSW.