Tenants' Union releases results of survey of share house residents
18/05/2017
Sharehouse residents have voiced their support for fair share-house rules in a new survey from the Tenants' Union of NSW and Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services. The current legal situation for share house residents is confusing, and leads to disputes which are difficult to resolve, the survey found.
Between December 1st 2016 and January 12th 2017, TUNSW and TAASs conducted a survey of people who have lived in a sharehouse in New South Wales over the last five years, to gather data and insights into their experience and expectations. Over six weeks our survey attracted responses from 317 people who have lived in a shared house or flat in New South Wales during the last five years.
The survey indicates that many people, across all ages, are living in shared housing without written sub-tenancy agreements. They have no legal protection against unfair eviction or access to effective dispute resolution services. Disputes do occur – our survey indicates a broad range of disputes are more likely to arise in shared housing than not. Disputes were often left unresolved, and respondents were more unsatisfied than satisfied with outcomes. Respondents overwhelmingly indicated they would support reform to clarify and improve the law for sharehouse residents.
