change of shared tenancy

Often in shared accommodation, no matter how well you all get along, situations change and you may want to vacate the property while your housemates want to stay or vice versa. Changing names on a lease agreement is not a simple procedure.

what you need to know

If you’re living with housemates, chances are that at least one of you, at some point, will want to move on while the rest of you wish to stay. This process is called a Change of Shared Tenancy and is not usually a simple procedure; we’ve included a guide below to make you aware of the in’s and out’s of changing the tenants on your lease agreement before you go ahead.

Please note: At least one of the original tenants must stay in the property. If none of the original occupants wish to stay in the property, it would be considered a brand new tenancy and a new lease needs to be signed and the bond will need to be claimed and relodged by new tenants.

outgoing tenant process

  1. Discuss with your housemates that you would like to leave the property.

  2. Fill out and submit a Notice of Intention to Leave (RTA Form 13) to our office. If possible, try to include a reason for vacating so we can let the owner know.

  3. Make an appointment, if possible, for all tenants (new and old) to see your property manager. At this meeting, we’ll be able to answer any questions you have and go through the documents that need to be collected/signed. These include:

    • Change of Shared Tenancy Form
    • Change of Bond Contributors Form (RTA Form 6)
    • Tax invoice for the Change of Shared Tenancy fee. This fee is reimbursed to the owner once paid.
    • Copy of the original Entry Condition Report
    • Copy of the original Tenancy Agreement
    • New tenancy fact sheets (in the event of an ingoing tenant).

  4. The purpose of the Change of Bond Contributors Form is to notify the RTA that the people who have contributed to the bond at your property have now changed. The RTA do not refund a bond until all the original tenants have vacated. If you had contributed a portion of the bond when you moved in, you should seek reimbursement of this amount from:

    • The incoming tenant
    • Your current housemates

    This arrangement is purely between you and your housemates and neither the RTA or our agency is responsible for any exchange of money between tenants.

  5. Cancel any direct debit you may have set up for your rent and make sure the existing tenants or the ingoing tenant (if applicable) have organised the full rent payment.

ingoing tenant process

  1. Submit an application form to our office along with all supporting documentation.

  2. Come along to the meeting (if possible) for all tenants (new and old) with your property manager. At this meeting, we’ll be able to answer any questions you have and go through the documents that need to be collected/signed. These include:

    • Change of Shared Tenancy Form
    • Change of Bond Contributors Form (RTA Form 6)
    • Tax invoice for the Change of Shared Tenancy fee. This fee is reimbursed to the owner once paid.
    • Copy of the original Entry Condition Report
    • Copy of the original Tenancy Agreement
    • New tenancy fact sheets

  3. Pay bond to the outgoing tenant (if this is the arrangement you’ve made with them).

  4. Ensure your rent payments are set up properly to ensure the rent does not fall behind at any time.

important info to consider

• If there was a bond loan involved at the start of your tenancy, you’ll need to contact the Department of Housing and Public Works before submitting the Change of Shared Bond Contributors Form to the RTA.

• The tenants remaining at the property take on full responsibility for the lease agreement and the condition of the property at the end of the lease.

• Approval for a change of shared tenancy is at the owner’s discretion. The owner is also not obligated to approve the application submitted by any ingoing tenants and does not have to provide a reason if the application is declined.