Residential Tenancies Act 1987

It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement —

that the lessor must provide and maintain such means to ensure that the residential premises are reasonably secure as are prescribed; and

that any lock or other means of securing the residential premises must not be altered, removed or added by a lessor or tenant without the consent of the other given at, or immediately before, the time that the alteration, removal or addition is carried out; and

that, except as provided in subsection (2), the lessor or the tenant must not unreasonably withhold the consent referred to in paragraph (b).

It is a term of every residential tenancy agreement —

that a tenant may alter or add any lock or other means of securing the residential premises —

after the termination of a person’s interest in a residential tenancy agreement under section 60(1)(bc); or

in any event, if it is necessary to prevent the commission of family violence that the tenant suspects, on reasonable grounds, is likely to be committed against the tenant or a dependant of the tenant;

that the tenant must give to the lessor a copy of the key to any lock or other means of securing the residential premises altered or added under paragraph (a) as soon as practicable, and in any event within 7 days, after the lock or other means of securing the residential premises has been altered or added; and

that the lessor must not give a copy of a key referred to in paragraph (b) —

to a person whose interest in the residential tenancy agreement has been terminated under section 60(1)(bc); or

in any event, to a person who the tenant has instructed the lessor in writing not to give the copy of the key.

A tenant who breaches a term referred to in subsection (2)(b) without reasonable excuse, in addition to any civil liability that the tenant might incur, commits an offence.

Subsection (2)(b) does not apply if the lessor is a person reasonably suspected of being likely to commit the family violence referred to in subsection (2)(a)(ii).