Invest
How to navigate rent negotiations
NSW Fair Trading has clarified what landlords in the state can do should they find themselves in a position of negotiating a rental agreement with their tenant.
How to navigate rent negotiations
NSW Fair Trading has clarified what landlords in the state can do should they find themselves in a position of negotiating a rental agreement with their tenant.
In a statement issued last week, NSW Fair Trading outlined what steps landlords can take if a tenant can no longer pay their full rent due to the impact of COVID-19.
The first step to take in this situation is for the landlord and tenant to discuss whether they can agree to a reduced rent or repayment arrangement, according to NSW Fair Trading.
“Landlords may be able to negotiate reduced repayments or a repayment freeze with their mortgage provider,” it said.
“…Landlords and tenants should be aware of what they are agreeing to in rent negotiations.
“It's important to distinguish between a deferral of part or all of a tenant’s rent payments and a waiver of part of or all of rent payments.”
- Waiver: the tenant won’t be required to pay back an agreed amount of rent.
- Deferral: the tenant must pay back an agreed amount of rent in the future.
“The amount of rent which is waived or deferred may be some or all of the regular weekly rental cost,” NSW Fair Trading said.
“Any agreement reached should specify what amount of rent will be waived or deferred.
“If rent is deferred, the agreement should specify when the rent is to be paid back, and how payments will be made to cover the amount (repayment plan).”
Elsewhere, landlords may embark on “good faith negotiations”.
“In general, a good faith negotiation means parties dealing honestly and fairly with one another to genuinely work towards a prompt and mutually beneficial agreement,” according to NSW Fair Trading.
“Good faith will depend on the circumstances of each case. All parties must act reasonably and be prepared to change their position or make concessions to achieve an agreement.
“If a negotiated agreement can’t be reached, both landlord and tenant will need to show they’ve attempted to negotiate in good faith.”
RELATED ARTICLES
Property
Multigenerational living is moving mainstream: how agents, developers and lenders can monetise the shift
Australia’s quiet housing revolution is no longer a niche lifestyle choice; it’s a structural shift in demand that will reward property businesses prepared to redesign product, pricing and ...Read more
Property
Prestige property, precision choice: a case study in selecting the right agent when millions are at stake
In Australia’s top-tier housing market, the wrong agent choice can quietly erase six figures from a sale. Privacy protocols, discreet buyer networks and data-savvy marketing have become the new ...Read more
Property
From ‘ugly’ to alpha: Turning outdated Australian homes into high‑yield assets
In a tight listings market, outdated properties aren’t dead weight—they’re mispriced optionality. Agencies and vendors that industrialise light‑touch refurbishment, behavioural marketing and ...Read more
Property
The 2026 Investor Playbook: Rental Tailwinds, City Divergence and the Tech-Led Operations Advantage
Rental income looks set to do the heavy lifting for investors in 2026, but not every capital city will move in lockstep. Industry veteran John McGrath tips a stronger rental year and a Melbourne ...Read more
Property
Prestige property, precision choice: Data, discretion and regulation now decide million‑dollar outcomes
In Australia’s prestige housing market, the selling agent is no longer a mere intermediary but a strategic supplier whose choices can shift outcomes by seven figures. The differentiators are no longer ...Read more
Property
The new battleground in housing: how first-home buyer policy is reshaping Australia’s entry-level market
Government-backed guarantees and stamp duty concessions have pushed fresh demand into the bottom of Australia’s price ladder, lifting values and compressing selling times in entry-level segmentsRead more
Property
Property 2026: Why measured moves will beat the market
In 2026, Australian property success will be won by investors who privilege resilience over velocity. The market is fragmenting by suburb and asset type, financing conditions remain tight, and ...Read more
Property
Entry-level property is winning: How first home buyer programs are reshaping demand, pricing power and strategy
Lower-priced homes are appreciating faster as government support channels demand into the entry tier. For developers, lenders and marketers, this is not a blip—it’s a structural reweighting of demand ...Read more
Property
Multigenerational living is moving mainstream: how agents, developers and lenders can monetise the shift
Australia’s quiet housing revolution is no longer a niche lifestyle choice; it’s a structural shift in demand that will reward property businesses prepared to redesign product, pricing and ...Read more
Property
Prestige property, precision choice: a case study in selecting the right agent when millions are at stake
In Australia’s top-tier housing market, the wrong agent choice can quietly erase six figures from a sale. Privacy protocols, discreet buyer networks and data-savvy marketing have become the new ...Read more
Property
From ‘ugly’ to alpha: Turning outdated Australian homes into high‑yield assets
In a tight listings market, outdated properties aren’t dead weight—they’re mispriced optionality. Agencies and vendors that industrialise light‑touch refurbishment, behavioural marketing and ...Read more
Property
The 2026 Investor Playbook: Rental Tailwinds, City Divergence and the Tech-Led Operations Advantage
Rental income looks set to do the heavy lifting for investors in 2026, but not every capital city will move in lockstep. Industry veteran John McGrath tips a stronger rental year and a Melbourne ...Read more
Property
Prestige property, precision choice: Data, discretion and regulation now decide million‑dollar outcomes
In Australia’s prestige housing market, the selling agent is no longer a mere intermediary but a strategic supplier whose choices can shift outcomes by seven figures. The differentiators are no longer ...Read more
Property
The new battleground in housing: how first-home buyer policy is reshaping Australia’s entry-level market
Government-backed guarantees and stamp duty concessions have pushed fresh demand into the bottom of Australia’s price ladder, lifting values and compressing selling times in entry-level segmentsRead more
Property
Property 2026: Why measured moves will beat the market
In 2026, Australian property success will be won by investors who privilege resilience over velocity. The market is fragmenting by suburb and asset type, financing conditions remain tight, and ...Read more
Property
Entry-level property is winning: How first home buyer programs are reshaping demand, pricing power and strategy
Lower-priced homes are appreciating faster as government support channels demand into the entry tier. For developers, lenders and marketers, this is not a blip—it’s a structural reweighting of demand ...Read more
