The Abandonment termination notice (Form 15) is used when the lessor/agent is terminating the agreement because they believe on reasonable grounds that the tenant has abandoned the premises.

The notice must be given to the tenant (by the lessor/agent) by serving it at the tenant’s residence or place of business.

Warning

• A person must not enter the premises to recover possession of the premises unless entry is authorised under the Act.
• Goods and/or documents left behind on the premises must be dealt with in accordance with the Act.
• Penalties apply to non-compliance with these provisions.

Disputing the notice

• If the tenant does not dispute the notice by applying to the Tribunal under s356 within 7 days, the tenant is taken to have abandoned the premises.
• The tenant has 7 days after the notice is given by the lessor to apply to the Tribunal to set aside this notice.
• The tenant has 28 days after the notice is given by the lessor to apply to the Tribunal for compensation.

Bond refunds
The RTA must not pay a rental bond for a residential tenancy agreement if it knows the lessor has given
an Abandonment termination notice (Form 15) to the tenant and the agreement has not ended. For this purpose please DO NOT SEND a Refund of Rental Bond (Form 4) to the RTA until on or after the handover date.

More information is available on our Abandoned premises or room page.

Form 15 - Abandonment termination notice

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