Can my landlord show my property to potential buyers while I am still living there in NSW?

Q: Can a landlord deduct cleaning costs from my bond in NSW?

Yes, a landlord can deduct cleaning costs from your bond in NSW, but only if the property is not reasonably clean. The law requires you to leave the premises in the same condition as when you moved in, minus fair wear and tear. They cannot charge for a professional clean automatically if it is already clean.

Q: Can I make repairs myself and deduct the cost from rent in New South Wales?

No, you cannot simply make repairs yourself and deduct the cost directly from your rent in New South Wales. You are legally required to continue paying your rent in full. However, for specific urgent repairs, you can arrange the work yourself up to the value of $1,000 and claim a reimbursement from your landlord.

Q: What are my rights if my landlord sells the property while I am renting it in NSW?

Your existing tenancy agreement remains fully valid if your landlord sells the property in NSW. The new owner must honor your current lease terms. You must receive 14 days' written notice before the property is first shown to prospective buyers. You also retain the right to negotiate reasonable viewing times and refuse open house inspections.

Robert JasonContent Researcher

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Answer

Yes, your landlord can show your property to potential buyers while you live there in New South Wales. However, they cannot simply drop in. They must give you 14 days' written notice before the property is first advertised, and 48 hours' notice before each inspection. Inspections are strictly limited to two per week.

NSW Fair Trading - Sale of rented premises

Last UpdatedMay 1, 2026

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How it works in practice

The Rules for Inspections

In New South Wales, your landlord has the legal right to sell the property you are renting. As part of this process, they are allowed to show the property to prospective buyers. However, your right to peace, comfort, and privacy must still be respected during the sales campaign.

Strict Notice Requirements

Before anyone can inspect the property, the landlord or their agent must provide you with at least 14 days' written notice of their intention to sell. Once this initial notice period has passed, they must then give you at least 48 hours' notice before every single inspection.

Limits on Frequency

Landlords cannot conduct open homes or private viewings every day. By law, inspections by potential buyers are capped at a maximum of two per week. Furthermore, you must make a reasonable effort to agree on the dates and times for these viewings. If you cannot reach an agreement, the landlord can set the times, but they cannot be on a Sunday, a public holiday, or outside the hours of 8 am and 8 pm.

Important exceptions

There are a few exceptions to the standard access rules during a property sale in New South Wales.

If you agree in writing, the landlord can hold more than two inspections per week, or conduct viewings outside the legally permitted hours.

Additionally, if you are a protected person under an apprehended violence order (AVO) and the prospective buyer is the person the AVO protects you against, you can legally refuse them entry to the premises.

Finally, you are not required to keep the property in a flawless display condition; you only need to keep it reasonably clean as dictated by your agreement.

What you should do now

Ask your landlord or real estate agent for the formal 14 days' written notice of their intention to sell the property.
Negotiate and agree on two specific days and times per week for buyer inspections that minimize disruption to your life.
Request at least 48 hours' written notice before every scheduled viewing to ensure you are prepared.
Remain at the property during the inspections if you wish, as you have the legal right to be present while buyers walk through.
Contact NSW Fair Trading or apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) if the landlord attempts to force excessive or unannounced inspections.

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