ABOUT

About our organisation

The Tenants' Union of NSW is the main resourcing body for the NSW network of Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services (TAASs), and a community legal centre specialising in NSW residential tenancies law.

We are an independent, secular not-for-profit membership-based co-operative under the Co-operatives (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012 (NSW). The primary activities of the co-operative are to provide legal services to economically and socially disadvantaged tenants, provide information and advice to all tenants on their legal rights and obligations, and to support advice and advocacy services to tenants. You can read our rules of incorporation here.

We work to promote the interests of Aboriginal renters; boarders, lodgers and other marginal renters; private rental tenants; public and community housing tenants; and land lease community residents.

 

Strategic Plan

Our Strategic Plan, developed through consultation with the Board, staff, and volunteers of Tenants' Union and significant stakeholders, is our commitment to continue making a positive difference to the lives of residential tenants in NSW.

What we do: 1. We assist renters to assert their rights. 2. We work for systemic change. 3. We educate and advise. 4. We listen to and are accountable to renters. Why we do it: We seek a future where all renters have the home they want. How we do it: The Tenants’ Union of NSW works with and for renters, particularly those in need, for housing justice. We support renters to have homes that are safe, secure, affordable and sustainable. Our values: We boldly commit to social change. We openly and creatively connect. We champion fairness. We learn, grow and do it well. We build inclusive compassionate communities.

Reconciliation Action Plan

The Tenants' Union has a Reconciliation Action Plan which aims to ensure that reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is built into all aspects of our work.

Ngalaya logo
  

We are proud to have a partnership with Ngalaya – the peak body for First Nations lawyers and law students in NSW. We collaborate on a number of projects. The Tenants' Union offers Ngalaya members tenancy law training at no cost, and facilitates access to the Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Services Network. Ngalya assists the Tenants' Union with recruitment of Aboriginal staff and facilitates ongoing mentoring and support for the Tenants' Union Paralegal (Aboriginal) position.

 

Funding

The Tenants' Union receives principal funding from:

  • The Tenants Advice and Advocacy Program administered by NSW Fair Trading, using money from the Rental Bond Board Interest Account and the Property Services Statutory Interest Account.
  • The Community Legal Centres Program administered by Legal Aid NSW. 

 

NSW Fair Trading        Legal Aid NSW

 

Accreditation

The Tenants' Union is accredited by Community Legal Centres Australia (formerly NACLC), is a member of the National Association of Renters Organisations, and is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission.

National Association of Renters' Organisations logo     Community Legal Centres Australia logo      ACNC registered charity logo

 

More about our work

 

 

Need advice? Contact your local service or check out our factsheets and other resources.

Tenancy info resources