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Residential Tenancies Act 1997
45AThreats, harassment, intimidation or abuse by lessor etc
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45A Threats, harassment, intimidation or abuse by lessor etc
(1) This section applies if a tenant believes that the lessor has engaged in
any of the following conduct against a tenant or related person:
(a) conduct that is threatening, intimidating, harassing or abusive;
(b) conduct that the tenant or related person is reasonably likely to
find threatening, intimidating, harassing or abusive.
(2) The tenant may apply to the ACAT for an order terminating the
(3) The tenant must, not later than 7 days before making an application
under subsection (2), give the lessor written notice that includes the
details of the conduct mentioned in subsection (1) that the tenant
believes the lessor has engaged in.
(4) On receiving an application under subsection (2), the registrar must
list the hearing before the ACAT not earlier than 14 days after the day
the tenant gives the lessor notice in accordance with subsection (3).
(5) The ACAT may—
(a) terminate a residential tenancy agreement if satisfied that—
(i) the lessor has engaged in the conduct mentioned in
subsection (1); and
(ii) at least 14 days has passed since the tenant gave the lessor
notice in accordance with subsection (3); and
(iii) it is appropriate to make the order; and
(b) make any other order the ACAT considers appropriate.
(6) In deciding whether it is appropriate to terminate the agreement, the
ACAT must take the following into account:
(a) the nature, frequency and duration of the conduct;
(b) the circumstances of the conduct, including any behaviour of the
tenant or related person;
(c) whether the conduct is likely to continue;
(d) whether the lessor has—
(i) stopped the conduct; or
(ii) agreed to stop the conduct and is reasonably likely to stop
the conduct in accordance with the agreement;
(e) any family violence order or protection order made against the
lessor by the Magistrates Court;
(f) any order under a law of a State or a foreign country that has the
same effect, or substantially the same effect, as an order
mentioned in paragraph (e);
Note State includes the Northern Territory (see Legislation Act, dict,
pt 1).
(g) the effect of the conduct on the tenant and any related person;
(h) whether any other order under this Act is reasonably available;
an order under s 83
lessor includes an agent or representative of the lessor.
related person means—
(a) a person who lives at the premises; or
(b) a family member of the tenant.