Housing & Tenancy
Having or needing a home is an important part of our lives. Renting a home means you have legal rights and responsibilities.
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What is tenancy?
Whether you live in public housing, community housing, or are renting through a private landlord (including through a real estate agent), you will have a “tenancy” – an agreement for you to live in your house in exchange for the payment of rent, among other things. Sometimes this agreement will be known as a housing agreement or a rental agreement.
In the Northern Territory, there are three types of tenancies:
- Public housing – tenancies through the government, such as the Department of Housing
- Community housing – tenancies through a community housing provider
- Private housing - tenancies through a private person, including a landlord or a real estate agent.
When you are renting, some common problems can include:
- Paying rent – how much and how often?
- Repairs – what happens next and who is responsible?
- Rental inspections – how often and what happens?
- Ending a tenancy – how and what happens?
- Owing money after a tenancy – why and how to sort out problems?
Unfortunately, TEWLS is unable to give legal advice to landlords in tenancy matters.
You can learn more about housing and tenancy by reading our factsheet here.
When should I get help with tenancy?
You might consider seeking legal advice if you answer “yes” to any of the below questions:
- Are you renting where you live and having problems?
- Do you owe money to your landlord, including the Department of Housing, and disagree with the debt?
- Are you on a tenancy blacklist?
- Does where you live have problems or repairs that need to be fixed?
- Do you live in a crowded house with too many people?
Free legal help for women & non-binary persons
