Retail Shop Leases Act 1994

The lessor under a retail shop lease must give the lessee an annual estimate in the approved form of the lessor’s apportionable outgoings and the proportion of those outgoings for which the lessee will be liable under the lease (the outgoings estimate).

The lessor must give the outgoings estimate—

at least 1 month before the start of the period to which the estimate relates; or

if the lessee enters into the lease during the period to which the estimate relates or within 1 month before the start of the period—when the lessee enters into the lease.

If the shop is in a retail shopping centre, the outgoings estimate must also include a breakdown of the estimated fees to be paid by the lessee towards the administration costs of running the centre and any other fees to be paid to a centre management entity.

The outgoings shown in the outgoings estimate must be itemised so that the amount shown for each item is not more than 5% of the total outgoings shown in the estimate.

However, the amount shown for an item may be more than 5% of the total outgoings if the item relates to—

a charge, levy, rate or tax payable under an Act; or

an outgoing that can not be further itemised to comply with subsection (4).

If a person becomes the owner of a retail shopping centre, or building containing a retail shop, the first outgoings estimate given by the person may be made for a period of less than 1 year.