RESOURCE

 

Please note: Tenancy laws are changing – more detail here. The new laws have passed parliament but are not yet in force. Some of the legal information on this page may soon change – we will update it as soon as possible.

Useful links – housing organisations, legal services, government

This page has links to various organisations which may be useful for NSW renters and supporters.

 

Housing peak organisations

 

Australia

Community Housing Federation Australia
communityhousing.com.au
National peak association of community housing providers.

Community Housing Industry Association
communityhousing.org.au
Peak industry body for not-for-profit managers and developers of low-cost housing in NSW.

Homelessness Australia
homelessnessaustralia.org.au
National peak body working to prevent and respond to homelessness.

National Shelter
shelter.org.au
Peak organisation aiming to improve housing access and affordability for people on low incomes.

New South Wales

Shelter NSW
shelternsw.org.au
Peak body advocating for tenants on low incomes, especially those living in public and community housing.

 

Legal services

 

Community Legal Centres NSW
clcnsw.org.au
Community legal centres give free and confidential legal help to people in need. The website findlegalhelp.clcnsw.org.au connects people with appropriate legal centres.

Find Legal Answers
legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au
Free legal information portal run by the State Library of NSW.

Law Society of NSW
lawsociety.com.au
Connects the public with the legal profession and facilitates understanding of the law.

Legal Aid NSW and LawAccess NSW
legalaid.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 1300 888 529
Legal Aid NSW provides a range of legal services to people who need advice, assistance and representation, and who qualify for legal aid. LawAccess NSW provides free legal information, advice and referrals, via phone or webchat. 

Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services
tenants.org.au/all/taas
The Tenants' Union of NSW is part of the Network of Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services – specialists in residential tenancies law. 

 

Government

 

Australian Government

Department of Social Services
dss.gov.au/housing-support
Manages programs and services around housing and homelessness.

NSW Government

Aboriginal Housing Office
aho.nsw.gov.au
Plans, administers and expands the policies, program and asset base for Aboriginal housing in NSW.

Community Justice Centres
cjc.justice.nsw.gov.au
Free mediation services for disputes (such as neighbour disputes).

NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
ncat.nsw.gov.au
Resolves disputes between tenants and landlords.
See also Factsheet 11: NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)
justice.nsw.gov.au
Online portal to law and justice agencies and services in NSW.

DCJ Housing
facs.nsw.gov.au/housing
Manages public housing, provides housing services and develops housing policy.

Housing Appeals Committee
hac.nsw.gov.au
Independent agency that can review decisions of social housing providers.

NSW Fair Trading
fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
Administers rental bonds and informs landlords and tenants about rights and responsibilities.

Rental Bonds Online
fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/renting/rental-bonds-online
Online portal for tenants, agents and landlords to lodge and claim bond money.

 

 

 

See also: