The biggest shake-up in tenancy laws in a decade just landed.
As of January 30, 2025, the rules of the game have changed. Some of these updates work in landlords’ favour, while others tip the scales toward tenants. Either way, if you own investment properties, you need to know what’s new and how it affects you.
At HPM, we’ve broken it all down—so you don’t have to. Here’s what’s changing and what it means for your rental properties.
#1 – “No Cause” Terminations Are Back
Effective: January 30, 2025
You can now end a periodic tenancy without giving a reason—just provide 90 days’ written notice.
Before this, landlords had to prove a tenant’s bad behavior three times within 90 days to even begin the eviction process. A total hassle.
Now, if a tenant is disruptive, causing trouble, or just not the right fit, you can take back control of your property—no long-winded Tribunal cases required.
💡 Important:
• This only applies to periodic tenancies. Fixed-term tenancies still require valid reasons for termination.
• Retaliation is a no-go. If a tenant takes you to the Tribunal for legitimate concerns (e.g., repairs), you can’t kick them out as revenge. Fines for doing so? Up to $6,500.
#2 – Tenants Can Now Leave with 3 Weeks’ Notice
Effective: January 30, 2025
Previously, tenants on a periodic tenancy had to give 4 weeks’ notice before leaving. Now, it’s just 3 weeks.
Sounds like a headache? Not really.
Since everyone now operates under this rule, your next tenants can also move in sooner. So, while you may have a slightly shorter turnaround time, you’ll also get new tenants in quicker.
#3 – Fixed-Term Tenancies Won’t Auto-Renew
Effective: January 30, 2025
Until now, fixed-term tenancies would automatically roll into a periodic tenancy unless you had a valid reason to stop them. That’s no longer the case.
Once a fixed-term tenancy ends, you can ask tenants to move out—no reason required.
✅ More control over who lives in your property.
✅ Better ability to plan for renovations or market changes.
💡 Key Detail: There’s a 90-day ‘ease-in’ period for this rule. That means the first 21-day notices can start being issued from June 12, 2025 onward
#4 – Property Investors (Basically) Have to Allow Pets
Effective: Date TBD (Pending bond centre system updates)
Landlords can no longer outright ban pets without a reasonable excuse.
Under the new law, if a tenant requests a pet, you can only refuse if you have a valid reason—like property size, pet breed, or potential damage risk.
The Upside?
• You can now charge a pet bond (up to 2 weeks’ rent) for extra protection.
• Tenants are fully liable for pet damage beyond fair wear and tear.
🐕 Example: If you own a small apartment, you could reasonably say no to a Great Dane. But saying no to a cat? Probably not going to fly. Expect this to be tested at the Tribunal.
When Do These Changes Take Effect?
Most of these laws are already in force as of January 30, 2025.
The only exception is the fixed-term tenancy rule, which has a 90-day grace period (meaning it fully kicks in on June 12, 2025).
What This Means for Property Investors
Overall, 2025 is shaping up to be a more balanced year for both landlords and tenants. These changes give landlords more control over tenancies while also giving tenants more flexibility.
At HPM, we’re across it all. Whether you’ve got questions or just want to make sure your properties are compliant, we’re here to help.
Want to chat? Get in touch with our team today.