What Is a Change of Shared Tenancy?
A change of shared tenancy is when one or more tenants move in or out of a rental property where multiple tenants are listed on the lease (Form 18a). This is known as a co-tenancy.
While this term is commonly used in the industry, it is not defined in the RTRA Act. Instead, these situations are legally treated as a transfer of tenancy under Sections 238 and 239.
How It Works
Because the tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract, any change to the tenants requires:
The lessor must act reasonably when deciding whether to approve or decline a request.
Best Practice Tip: It’s recommended (though not legally required) that at least one original tenant remains on the lease during any changes.
This helps reduce risk at the end of the tenancy, particularly around liability and bond disputes.
In summary: A change of shared tenancy = tenants being added or removed from a lease, requiring owner approval and careful management to minimise risk.