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Tenants' Union news

Also check out our blog, Tenant News archive, media appearances, and Housing News Digest.
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Retirement upheaval update

Hacienda holiday park
In the long-running Hacienda saga, home owners have achieved a very significant outcome in the face of misconduct by a rogue operator.
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Contempt

David Dodge
Orders made by the Tribunal are legally binding. So what happens when Tribunal orders are not complied with?
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David vs Goliath

Bob Morris as David
Bob Morris became an advocate for other home owners in his community when they decided to challenge the legality of the fixed method site fee increase that is a term of their site agreements. Bob wrote this article to share his experience and to highlight some of the difficulties facing home owners when they want to assert or protect their legal rights.
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Palm Lake Resort Appeal Dismissed

Outasite logo
On 30 June 2021 the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) Appeal Panel handed down the decision in Palm Lake Resort P/L v King and Metcalfe NSWCATAP 195. The proceedings were an appeal by the operator against a finding by the Tribunal at first instance that the site fee increase term in the home owners’ site agreements contained more than one fixed method. This case is similar to the one at Kincumber Nautical Village (see preceding article ‘David vs Goliath’) however the fixed method terms being disputed were different.
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Increased rent relief support payments, but NSW Eviction Moratorium must be extended

Text box with stylised image of coronavirus cell and buildings. Text reads: COVID-19 rental support. Financial support extended to $3000 for waived rent Further protections required to help prevent virus spread and economic harm.
Yesterday the NSW Government announced they are increasing the rent relief support available up to $3000 for landlords who reduce (waive) rent by this amount for impacted tenants. We welcome and would like to thank Minister Anderson for extending rent relief support. There are a number of ways in which current restrictions and protections should be further clarified and strengthened to ensure they support and protect the community as intended. Our key recommendations in this article.
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The tale of Alan and Annie: living in affordable housing and retiring from paid work

Moving a home person with packed boxes and moving furniture, Attribution: pikisuperstar - www.freepik.com
‘What happens to an affordable housing tenant when they retire? Will they be forced to move?’ The Tenants' Union of NSW isn't sure of the answer to this question. So, Robert Mowbray - the Tenants' Union's Older Renters Policy Officer - went to do a bit of digging.
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COVID-19 Financial Incentives for Landlords

Group of people in a house with cartoons of covid outside
The NSW Government has introduced financial incentives that can be claimed by landlords who provide a rent reduction to tenants impacted by COVID-19 during this period. If you are an ‘impacted tenant’, you can advise your landlord that if they provide you with a rent reduction, then they can claim one of the following two types of government payments.
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WESTS lockdown service update

WESTS - here to help
The Western Sydney Tenants' Service (WESTS) is operating remotely during the COVID-19 Lockdown period. We will continue to deliver our excellent service to the Western Sydney community whilst in lockdown. Our offices are currently closed, but we strongly encourage our clients to continue contacting us online or via phone. As a tenant, you are entitled to exercise your rights within the scope of the current Public Health Orders and landlords are still to be held accountable to their general obligations under the rental agreement and residential tenancies law.
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Vale John Mant – supporter of TAAS

John Mant
VALE JOHN MANT, 1936-2021: The tenants of New South Wales owe a big thankyou to John Mant who died on 10 July, aged 84. He left a legacy still in the making, especially in the field of urban planning. He also made a big contribution to the creation and ongoing support for tenants advice and advocacy services in NSW
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Support for International Students: Pilot Hub Launched

OISH launch
International students have faced incredible hardship throughout the COVID-19 epidemic. At the peak of the pandemic, six international students began regular International student support sessions for isolated students. These zoom sessions sparked an idea for a physical hub where international students could support one another, share stories and build skills. The Tenants’ Union worked as part of a Sydney Alliance organising committee to develop the idea.
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