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NACLC

Tenants Service

The Illawarra Tenants Service provides FREE information, advice & advocacy to private and public tenants and people whose principal place of residence is in a residential park. We DO NOT provide advice to landlords.

Telephone Advice Line 

       02 4274 3475
       or
       1800 807 225

The majority of advice is given over the telephone however appointments are available on request. Our phone lines are open at the following times:

Monday, Tuesday & Friday 9.00 am - 1.00 pm
Wednesday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm

At all other times please leave a message so that a worker can return your call.


We provide assistance to people in the following local government areas:

area map point     Wollongong
point     Wingecarribee
point     Shellharbour
point     Kiama
point     Shoalhaven
point     Eurobodalla
point     Bega Valley

We can help tenants with:

point General advice about rights and responsibilities
point Disputes with landlords or real estate agents
point Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal applications and hearings
point Disputes with Community Housing

We can help park residents with:

point General advice about rights and responsibilities
point Disputes with park owners
point Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal applications and hearings
point Offer advice on sale and assignment rights, park rules, rent increases, service charges, compensation for relocation and other tenancy matters.

We provide the following services and assistance:

point Explain your rights and obligations as a tenant
point Explain the rights and obligations of your landlord
point Provide tenants with tenancy information, factsheets and forms
point Provide options to resolve your tenancy matter
point Assist you to write letters to your landlord or real estate agent
point Assist you to prepare for the Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal
point Represent disadvantaged tenants appearing before the Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal

Community Legal Education

Community Legal Education (CLE) is the provision of information and education to members of the community concerning law and legal processes.

The Illawarra Tenants Servcice can provide CLE in the form of workshops, information stalls, newsletter/newspaper items, guest speakers, posters & other written information for tenants, people who work with tenants, boarders and lodgers, and residential park residents.

For more information about CLE please visit Community Legal Education & Community Development.

Fact sheets & sample letters available:

These factsheets provide an overview of your rights.Get Adobe Reader

1. Residential Tenancies Act

As a tenant, you have rights under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987. This factsheet outlines the Act for tenants in NSW.

See also: The Residential Tenancies Act 1987

2. Starting a tenancy

This factsheet explains the law in NSW about starting a tenancy agreement.

3. Bond

As a tenant, you have rights under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and the Landlord and Tenant (Rental Bonds) Act 1977. This factsheet explains the law in NSW about bond.

4. Rent increases

This factsheet explains the law in NSW about how rent can be increased.

5. Rent arrears 

This factsheet explains the law in NSW about rent arrears.

6. Repairs

This factsheet explains the law in NSW about repairs and maintenance.

7. Locks and security

This factsheet explains the law in NSW about what is 'reasonable security'.

8. Access and privacy

This factsheet explains the law in NSW about the tenants right to privacy, and the landlord's right to enter the premises.

9. You want to leave 

This factsheet explains the law in NSW about moving out of rented premises.

10. Landlord ends agreement 

This factsheet explains the law in NSW about how the landlord must end a tenancy agreement.

11. Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal

This factsheet explains what the Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal does to settle disputes between landlords and tenants in NSW.

12. Social housing 

This factsheet provides information for social housing tenants.

13. Strata scheme tenants

This factsheet explains the rights of Strata Scheme Tenants in NSW.

14. Boarders and lodgers 

Boarders and lodgers are tenants who live in premises where the landlord keeps control of the premises. This factsheet explains what rights Boarders & lodgers do have under the law in NSW.

15. Share housing

This factsheet explains the legal issues your need to be aware of when you're sharing a house or flat.

16. Ending the tenancy early

This factsheet explains the law in NSW if you end the tenancy early.

17. Discrimination

It is against the law in NSW to discriminate against people on the basis of their race, sex, marital status, age, disability (physical, intellectual or psychiatric), sexuality (e.g. trans-sexuality) or sexual preference (e.g. homosexuality), but only in certain circumstances. This covers when you rent a house or flat.

This factsheet explains the law in NSW about discrimination and tenants rights.

18. Lead 

Lead in residential premises can be harmful. This factsheet is about what you can do if you suspect your home is contaminated by Lead.

19. Tenant databases

This factsheet explains the law in NSW about the tenants tenant databases.

20. Smoke alarms

From 1 May 2006, it is a term of every residential tenancy agreement that the landlord will install and maintain smoke alarms according to the standards set out in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Smoke Alarms) Regulation 2006. Landlords were given until 1 November 2006 to install smoke alarms. This factsheet explains the law in NSW about smoke alarms.

21. Mortgagees and tenants

This factsheet explains what to do if you get a letter or notice about a mortgage and the premises you are renting.

22. Storm damage

This factsheet is about damage to the premises that is neither the fault of the landlord nor the tenant.

23. Uncollected Goods

Available on request this factsheet explains your rights regarding goods that have been left at the property after you have left.

24. Domestic Violence & Tenancy (pdf)

This fact sheets gives options on how to deal with domestic violence under during a tenancy.

Additional Resources:

The Tenants Union of NSW

The Tenants' Union of New South Wales Co-operative Limited (TU) is a non-profit co-operative founded in 1976 and located in Sydney, New South Wales. As well as being the current peak resource unit for the Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Program across NSW, the TU is also a specialist community legal centre.

The Park and Village Service

The Park and Village Service (PAVS) provide training, resources, advocacy and information on the rights and responsibilities of residential park and manufactured home estate residents.

The Older Persons Tenants’ Service

The Older Persons Tenants’ Service (OPTS) provides tenancy and housing advice to superannuants, pensioners and older people, conducts education sessions on tenants rights and obligations, housing choices and home safety and security.

The Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal

The role of the NSW Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal is to resolve disputes between tenants, landlords, traders and consumers in an expeditious and effective manner.

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