The year the rental sector grew up
Zac Snelling Head of Property Management Ray White Group
If 2025 will be remembered for anything, it’ s that the rental sector finally entered a phase of clarity and cohesion. Following several turbulent years of rapid legislative change, market shocks and economic uncertainty, this was the year the industry steadied – the year, Ray White Group Head of Property Management Zac Snelling says, the rental sector‘ grew up’.
“ The volume of reform has been enormous,” he says.“ But for the first time in a long time, those reforms have been consistent in their intent. They’ ve raised minimum standards, clarified expectations, and given landlords the confidence that comes from predictability rather than surprise.”
That sense of direction is now shaping a markedly more optimistic end to 2025, with policy stabilisation and improving macroeconomic conditions forming the clearest roadmap landlords have had in years.
REGULATORY MATURITY
Landlords and tenants absorbed what has arguably been the largest volume of policy change in years. By mid-year, two waves of amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act had already taken effect, with further reforms commencing this month.
What distinguishes this year’ s changes, Snelling says, is not just their volume, but their purpose.
“ These reforms weren’ t arbitrary. They weren’ t politically reactionary. They were designed to professionalise the sector – to modernise processes and lift standards across the board.”
Key 2025 updates include:
• Two tranches of changes to the Residential Tenancies Act in January and again in March, including amendments to notice periods for end of tenancies, tenures and sale processes, enforceable no-smoking clauses, capped rent-reduction orders, and digital service capabilities for notices.
• The full reinstatement of interest deductibility on 1 April.
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