I’m renting and I’ve been impacted by disaster. What are my rights? (NSW)

What is this resource?

This resource is designed to support people in New South Wales who have been impacted by a disaster find legal information online and connect with appropriate services. It will help you identify if you are dealing with a legal problem related to tenancy and understand how to make an application for legal help.

This resource provides:

• links to legal information resources
• information on how to make a referral for legal help

What rights do renters have after a disaster?

Disasters such as floods and bushfires can leave renters with a home that needs repairs or is even uninhabitable. If you are facing a problem related to your tenancy after a disaster, it might be a legal problem.

Tenants Union of New South Wales have created several resources, including podcasts, to explain renter rights when a disaster hits, including:

• Tips: Renting after a disaster – Tenants Union
• Disaster Damage – Tenants Union
• Residential land lease communities and natural disasters – Tenants Union
• Negotiating with your landlord – Tenants Union
• Podcast – Tenants rights after a disaster – Tenants Union
• Podcast – Residential land lease communities and natural disasters – Tenants Union

Where to get help

Tenants’ Union of New South Wales

Tenants’ Union of New South Wales is the main resourcing body for the NSW network of Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services, and a community legal centre specialising in NSW residential tenancies law. They assist renters to assert their rights, work for systemic change, educate and advise, and listen to and are accountable to renters.

Visit their website for more information on how they can help: https://www.tenants.org.au/  

LawAccess NSW

LawAccess is a free government service that provides legal information and referrals, including to Legal Aid NSW, for people with a legal problem in NSW.

See their website for more information on how they can help: https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/

Justice Connect

Justice Connect assists eligible individuals, small businesses, community organisations and farms and other primary producers who have been impacted by natural disasters. 

You can apply online for free legal help: Apply for help – Justice Connect. This is the quickest and most efficient way to check if you’re eligible and start the process of being matched with a lawyer. Once we receive your application, a member of our team will be in touch to guide you through the next steps.