Structure and Summary of the Act Extended meaning of tenancy in the Act
13.Section 4 provides that private residential tenancies are tenancies, despite the lack of an “ish” (i.e. a termination date) — at common law, a tenancy must have an ish.
14.Section 4 also provides that once a tenancy has become a private residential tenancy, it continues to be one even if it is subsequently agreed that the tenant no longer has to pay rent. At common law, a tenancy agreement must include a requirement for rent of some form or other to be paid. And for there to be a private residential tenancy, there must be an underlying tenancy. Dropping the requirement for the payment of rent from a lease would, but for section 4, mean that there would no longer be a tenancy per se and therefore the Act’s provisions would cease to apply to the arrangement.