New South Wales Consolidated Acts

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT 2010 - SECT 71

71 Changes of locks and other security devices

(1) A landlord or tenant may alter, remove or add or cause or permit the alteration, removal or addition of a lock or other security device for the residential premises only if--

(a) the other party agrees, or

(b) with a reasonable excuse.

(2) Without limiting what is a reasonable excuse, it is a reasonable excuse that a lock or other security device was altered, removed or added--

(a) in an emergency, or

(b) in accordance with an order of the Tribunal, or

(c) after the tenancy of a co-tenant was terminated, or

(d) after a tenant or occupant of residential premises was prohibited from having access to the residential premises by an apprehended violence order.

(3) If a lock or other security device is altered, removed or added by a landlord or the tenant without the consent of the other party, it is presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that it was altered, removed or added by the landlord or tenant without reasonable excuse.

(4) A landlord or tenant who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence.

: Maximum penalty--20 penalty units.

(5) This section is a term of every residential tenancy agreement.