Our vision is to be a leader in delivering excellent, integrated tenancy advice services to the people of ACT that responds to their needs in a caring, efficient, and professional manner.
Our mission is to assist and empower residential tenants and occupants of the ACT to build long-term independence and housing security by providing a wide-range of services.
We aim to service the needs of priority clients in the ACT community, such as those:
We assist clients to understand and assert their legal rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (ACT) and to identify, address or prevent legal problems before they escalate into more significant matters.
We provide assistance to facilitate the timely resolution of matters referred to us in collaboration with ACT community legal centres, government, the private legal profession, and others to create a cohesive service that can best meet the needs of ACT tenants and occupants.
The assistance we offer takes multiple forms:
| Advise | We offer legal advice, assistance with other legal tasks, representation services, information, and referrals. |
| Support | We provide support through our Walk-in services, Legal Aid clinics, referral to social services, website resources, and Community Liaison Unit. |
| Education | We offer community legal education for residential tenants and tenant advocates. |
| Reform | We pursue positive policy and legal reform that serves the interests of disadvantaged residential tenants. |
Our tenancy advice line is a free, confidential phone service that connects you to a paralegal who can offer legal advice and assistance on a range of tenancy matters.
TAS phone number: 1300 402 512
The Tenancy Advice Line (phone) operates:
Chat: https://tawk.to/tasact
Address: 2 Allsop Street Canberra City ACT 2601
There are a wide-range of other services that can help you with your tenancy and occupancy issues. We have listed a few below:
| Onelink | Onelink provides information about and connection to crisis accommodation and other support services for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. |
| Supportive Tenancy Service | Supportive Tenancy Service provides outreach support to people in housing stress, or who may be at risk of homelessness, regardless of the reason for their circumstances. |
| Canberra Community Law | Canberra Community Law provides legal advice and assistance in relation to public and community housing tenants or occupants. |
| Care Financial Counselling Service | Care and Financial Counselling Service provides financial counselling support which may be of assistance to individuals who are struggling to pay rent or utilities |
The ACT Law Handbook online provides an explanation of laws in the ACT, including those related to tenancy. It functions as a quick guide to the law: what it is, how it affects you, and how you can use it. It is written by academics, lawyers and judges with the aim of making the law more accessible for ACT residents.
The renting book is a resource published by the ACT Revenue Office that sets out the rights and responsibilities of tenants, occupants, property owners, and real estate agents. It can help you navigate the Residential Tenancies Act and work out how the law applies to you.
The Residential Tenancies Act sets out the laws governing residential tenancies in the Australian Capital Territory. The Act defines key terms, establishes all rights and obligations for tenants and lessors, and provides the remedial powers available to the courts and ACAT.
There are some common problems and questions that we receive here at the Tenancy Advice Service. Please consult our list to see if your problem appears and read the associated factsheets as they may provide you with the information you require to solve the problem yourself. We have linked a number of factsheets , useful documents and sample letters for you to read and use.
If your problem does not appear, or you require any further assistance, please contact us.
The below files are presented in Portable Document Format, or PDF. If you are having trouble viewing them, please download a free copy of Adobe Reader by clicking the below image or call our helpline on 1800 654 314 between 8:30am and 4.30pm weekdays to arrange a physical copy.
Get Acrobat Reader
Access and Privacy (PDF, 271.59 KB) - A factsheet discussing tenant privacy and lessor access to rental properties
Bond (PDF, 600.54 KB) - A factsheet discussing the tenancy bond - what it is for, how to pay it and how to get it back
Condition Reports (PDF, 417.51 KB) - A factsheet discussing the importance of condition reports and why tenants need to complete them.
Ending a Tenancy/Breaking a Lease (PDF, 674.16 KB) - A factsheet discussing how a tenancy can be brought to an end and what to do if a tenant needs to break a lease.
Landlord Ending a Tenancy (PDF, 649.19 KB) - A factsheet that provides information about landlord ending a tenancy
Going to ACAT (PDF, 277.29 KB) - A factsheet discussing what tenants need to know if they are going to ACAT
Modifications to Property (PDF, 338.08 KB) - A factsheet discussing when rental properties an be modified by tenants.
Mould (PDF, 304.28 KB) - A factsheet about mould in rental properties.
Occupancy Agreements (PDF, 406.63 KB) - A factsheet discussing occupancy agreements
Pets (PDF, 353.05 KB) - A factsheet discussing whether you can keep a pet during your tenancy
Rent Increases (PDF, 274.05 KB) - A factseet discussing what tenants need to know when advised of a rent increase.
Repairs and Maintenance (PDF, 323.46 KB) - A factsheet discussing who is responsible for repairs and maintenance of a rental property.
Starting a Tenancy (PDF, 354.07 KB) - A factsheet discussing what you need to think about when starting a tenancy.
Sub-letting (PDF, 272.5 KB) - A factsheet discussing sub-letting
Your Rights and Obligations as a Tenant (PDF, 402.38 KB) - A factsheet summarising your rights and obligations as a tenant
ACT Government Factsheets - the ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate provides several of its own factsheets that are regularly updated and explain major changes in the Residential Tenancies Act.
Condition of Premises Report (PDF, 232.89 KB) - Condition reports are used as evidence in bond disputes. This 5-page condition report can be used in a tenancy or occupancy. It is available free from www.revenue.act.gov.au
Standard residential tenancy terms - Schedule 1 (PDF, 279.18 KB) - Standard residential tenancy terms - Schedule 1
Standard Tenancy Agreement 2023 (PDF, 318.53 KB) - Standard Tenancy Agreement
Sample letters are in Word format so you can edit and use them for your own situation
