NSW real estate agents threaten renters with fees if they are not home for tradespeople – but legally they don’t have to be

Published on July 26, 2025
NSW real estate agents threaten renters with fees if they are not home for tradespeople – but legally they don’t have to be

More than 2,100 people contacted the tenants’ union in 2024 for advice about access, despite ‘no basis’ for the charge

New South Wales real estate agents are threatening renters with fees as high as $330 if they are not at home to let maintenance workers in, despite there being no legal requirement for renters to personally allow entry.

On 8 July, Lauren Gillin’s agency told her she needed to be home during a two-and-a-half-hour window seven days from that date to allow access for a smoke alarm inspector or pay a $90 fee.

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RentingConsumer affairsHousingBusinessNew South WalesAustralia news
NSW real estate agents threaten renters with fees if they are not home for tradespeople – but legally they don’t have to be