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Canberra Today 6°/10° | Saturday, April 20, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Financially-hit tenants can break their lease without fees

AN extended moratorium for residents impacted by COVID-19 will now allow tenants to terminate their fixed-term tenancy agreements, without penalty.

The moratorium period has been extended a further three months, to October 22, and in addition, it will now allow for early lease breaks.

“A COVID-19 impacted household can now terminate their agreement by providing their landlord with three weeks’ notice and evidence that they have been impacted by COVID-19,” says Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay.

“In these circumstances, tenants will not be charged a ‘break-lease’ fee or be required to pay additional compensation. However, if they have fallen into rent arrears during the tenancy this money would still be owed as a debt to their landlord.”

The moratorium comes under the “Residential Tenancies (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Declaration 2020 (No 2)”.

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