Landmark privacy protections for renters
For too long, renters’ privacy across the Central Coast has not been adequately protected – leaving them vulnerable to discrimination, identity fraud and deceptive property listings. That has now changed.
The State Government has passed tough new laws to strengthen privacy protections for Central Coast renters, better safeguard their personal information and stop misleading rental ads created using AI.
11 November 2026
UNDER the new laws, documents like driver licences and passports will now only be collected from the preferred applicant before signing the lease, significantly reducing the estimated 187,000 pieces of ID collected from rental applicants every year.
The Hon. David Harris Member for Wyong said, “The new laws support renters across the Central Coast to limit intrusive data gathering in the rental process and protect people from misinformation.
"This is another step forward to making renting fairer and less stressful for renters in the Wyong electorate and the region.”
Liesl Tesch Member for Gosford said, “It’s become all too common for renters to fork out unreasonable amounts of personal information when applying for a rental, such as passports and driver licenses.
“That’s why the Minns Labor Government is acting, having passed laws in the NSW Parliament to safeguard personal data and crackdown on digitally altered ads.
“It’s another common-sense way the Minns Labor Government is making renting fairer for those on the Central Coast.”
With cost-of-living front of mind for many renters, the changes also make it mandatory for agents to disclose if a property is connected to an embedded utility network, such as a private electricity or gas system, allowing tenants to know upfront if they’re locked into a single energy provider so there are no surprises on their bills.
The Hon. Yasmin Catley Member for Swansea said that in the electorate of Swansea, renters deserve to feel just as secure in their homes as homeowners do, and these reforms are helping make that a reality.
“We know changes like these might seem small, but they can make a real difference for renters at unexpected moments - and many people may never even realise they’ve been protected by them," she said.
“Swansea is one of the best places to live, and as cost-of-living pressures continue, we want to make sure renting isn't a barrier to building a good life in our community.”
The Government has started consultation with stakeholders to finalise the standard application form and the types of documents that can be collected to assess rental applications, including defining when those documents need to be destroyed.
The new laws are expected to come into effect in early 2027.
Central Coast renters shouldn’t have to worry about arriving at a property inspection to find it looks nothing like the online ad – nor should they be asked to hand over highly personal details like photos, social media and information about their tattoos to find a place to live.
This is the latest way the State Government is delivering on its promise to make renting fairer in the region. The Government has:
- Banned no-grounds evictions. Limited rent increases to once a year.
- Ensured renters have fee-free ways to pay rent.
- Banned fees for background checks.
- Made it easier to have pets in rentals.
- Launched Smart Rental Bonds statewide, saving every renter in NSW thousands of dollars by allowing them to digitally transfer their bond between properties.
The Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading said, “Making renting fairer is a clear Government priority – and these new laws mean NSW has some of the strongest renter privacy protections in the country.
“They build on the Government’s landmark suite of rental protections that have banned no-grounds evictions, limited rent increases to once a year and mandated fee-free ways to pay rent.
“The Liberals failed to act at every turn to protect renters’ rights and privacy for over a decade. They’re continuing to send a clear message to renters: they don’t care about you.”
David Mehan Member for The Entrance said, “Renters deserve privacy, fairness and a fair go.
"These new laws put stronger protections in place and make renting fairer and less stressful for everyone.”
Penalties for breaches are significant – up to $11,000 for individuals and $49,500 for corporations for privacy violations – while businesses who fail to disclose altered photographs face penalties of up to $22,000.
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