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The Limits of Rights and Protections: Housing as an Essential Service

Out of order sign
Public policy relating to renting and tenancy is typically approached through two competing conceptions: consumer protection and human rights - are we regulating an economic exchange or ensuring that everyone has a roof over their heads? The problems resulting from these, governments resistant to enforceable rights mechanisms and not all tenancies being commercial transactions, mean too many people are denied adequate housing. Perhaps it’s time to explore a different way of framing this issue: through the lens of access to housing as public service provision.
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‘Ending homelessness together’: Tenancy team reaches out to the community for Homelessness Week

Fern and Ivana at Homelessness Week
In order to raise awareness about homelessness, the WSCLC tenancy team WESTS ran a stall in Centenary Square, Parramatta for Homelessness Week on August 6. Tenant Advocates Miriam, Rachael, Fern, Ivana, and Program Coordinator, Franya, were the forces behind the stall on the day. The team handed out an excess 200 showbags, which included information about WSCLC’s services and critical material on tenants’ rights.
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NEWTAAS 2018 Annual Report

NEWTAAS Annual Report
The New England and Western Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Service had another busy year in 2017-2018. Our staff are a small but tight-knit team. We’re dedicated and hard-working because we know just how serious the work that we do is. We often have a direct impact on a family’s capacity to stay in their home, and that is a very serious responsibility.
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Rent Choice Assist launched

FACS logo
Yesterday Minister Goward announced Rent Choice Assist – this is a private rental subsidy that can support people at risk of homelessness to maintain their rentals with assistance for up to three years.
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Waterloo Redevelopment Masterplan Process Whiteboard Animation launched

Waterloo Redevelopment Masterplan Process Whiteboard Animation
A new video outlining the process for developing the Waterloo Redevelopment Masterplan Process has been launched. The aim of the whiteboard animation project is to provide independent information to the whole of the Waterloo community and key stakeholders on the Waterloo masterplan process, and to encourage the community to have its voice heard as part of the process through an engaging, original and innovative medium.
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What it takes to keep a TAAS running - Interview with Carol Allen, Administration and Finance at Murra Mia Tenant Advocacy Service

Carol Allen, Administration and Finance at Murra Mia Tenant Advocacy Service
Murra Mia Tenant Advocacy Service advocates on behalf of Aboriginal tenants in their catchment area, which covers Wollongong down to the Victorian border, across to Griffith and Wagga Wagga and Dareton. They are currently working with other Aboriginal organisations in the area to form an alliance to ensure Aboriginal clients are able to access services available through different Government and non-Government organisations.
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Local Government Regulations

The Grange
When you live in, or operate, a land lease community the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act (RLLC Act) is not the only legislation you need to know about. The Local Government (Manufactured Home Estates, Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds and Moveable Dwellings) Regulation (the Regulation) also has a significant role.
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Abandoned and alone

The Grauls’ home
Residential land lease community law recognises that people who purchase homes in these communities need to be compensated if the operator takes away the leasehold right on the land where their home is situated.
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Wrong Agreement? Don't panic - get legal advice

David
Contract law and the rules for contract formation play a key part in everyday life and land lease communities are no different – everything flows from the contract. Contracts or agreements are usually made in writing but what if you have an agreement that is not in writing, or the agreement is different to the one you should have been given? Here we look at two matters that ended up at NCAT during late 2017 and early 2018. One where the home-owner had no written signed agreement and the other where the homeowners were given the wrong type of agreement applicable to their circumstances.
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Site fee increase disputes at NCAT

NCAT
Excessive site fee increases rarely make it to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) since the introduction of the compulsory mediation process. However, in 2017 some home owners at Gateway Lifestyle Redhead could not reach an agreement with the operator and they did go to the Tribunal.
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