ABOUT

Tenants' Union news

Also check out our blog, Tenant News archive, media appearances, and Housing News Digest.
For factsheets and sample letters, please see Tenancy info.

 

Clarity for renters as stop on evictions announced

buildings with covid shapes hovering in the sky
The Tenants’ Union of NSW welcomes this morning’s announcement from the NSW Government confirming that protection for renters is on its way. We understand the package includes a temporary stop on evictions, a requirement for landlords to engage in meaningful negotiations and greater advocacy support for tenants.
Read more

Tenants’ Union leadership – from strength to strength

Leo on ABC News
The Tenants’ Union is pleased to announce Leo Patterson Ross as our new Chief Executive Officer. Leo has worked in housing and community development for almost two decades – including as a Tenant Advocate, Advocacy & Research Officer, and most recently as Tenants’ Union Senior Policy Officer. Throughout this time Leo has fought passionately for renters’ rights – with justice around land and housing as his driving goal.
Read more

Uncertainty and fear: evictions during the pandemic

woman looking at a phone
"Isn’t there supposed to be a ban on evictions at the moment?"

Two weeks ago Prime Minister Scott Morrison, following a meeting of national cabinet, announced states and territories had agreed to put a moratorium on evictions for the next six months for people in financial distress, unable to meet their rental commitments. Local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services have been flooded with calls the last few weeks from people seeking advice in the context of the COVID19 health crisis.
Read more

Why coronavirus impacts are devastating for international students in private rental housing

Man sitting at a desk in a dark room
About half of international students in Australia are private renters and more than half of them rely on paid work to pay the rent, but most of the casual jobs they depend on have been lost in the coronavirus pandemic. The results of a recent survey (conducted pre-COVID-19) of international students living in private rental accommodation suggest up to half of them may now be unable to pay their rent. Many also live in quite crowded conditions, so will struggle to self-isolate even if they don’t lose their current housing.
Read more

How the COVID-19 pandemic may impact land lease communities

Fist bump
There is no doubt we are living in strange and worrying times where everything is changing almost on a daily basis, including the law. The Tenants’ Union has had a number of enquiries from land lease community residents about the impacts of COVID-19, which we will address in this special issue of Outasite Lite.
Read more

Service NSW COVID19 Hotline

buildings with covid shapes hovering in the sky
Service NSW has established a 24 hour/7 day a week hotline to support people and business operators throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with questions about support and government assistance, phone 13 77 88. Staff can follow up about specific concerns as well as give general information.
Read more

How to set a fair rent during COVID-19

How to set a fair rent during COVID-19
Despite it being a tricky concept for some to get used to, lots of people are trying to negotiate their rents right now. We’ve had a look at the ATO’s tax stats to try and help out what might be a rent in line with the Prime Minister's 'hibernation' mode.
Read more

Evictions banned? Rent relief? – COVID19 update

Covid19 graphic
An eviction moratorium has been announced, but not yet implemented. Renters need this urgently, along with a system where we aren’t saddled with massive debts. This crisis is a whole-of-community problem. Governments need to step in to facilitate rent relief.
Read more

Rent relief language - quick explainer

Notepad with doodle of houses and text reading: Rent relief? Abatement? Reduction? Control? Freeze? What do they mean?
There’s a lot of phrases being used at the moment to describe some kind of change to the way we’ve gotten used to renting happening in Australia. People are discussing all sorts of ways for government to step in. Some of these phrases though, might not mean what people think they do.
Read more

Protect our communities: no evictions in a health crisis

Protext our communities - no evictions in a health crisis
We are community coalition made up of 70 people and organisations who work with renters and research housing problems. The COVID19 epidemic is a public health crisis that will be made worse by evictions. We call on the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments to ensure no evictions happen during this crisis.
Read more