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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.

 

Survey: Renter's privacy and data

Wed, 04/01/2023 - 16:10
Cartoon image of 5 people holding signs with a padlock over their face
You may have heard that the NSW Government is looking at the information that is being collected about tenants during the application process and how it is being stored. This is a great opportunity to 

We've developed this survey to capture your experiences and thoughts about the issue to help us ensure changes are fair and effective.
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Banning rent bidding: what do the new protections do?

Wed, 14/12/2022 - 14:17
graphic of an auctioneer's hammer
You have likely heard the NSW Government this week signed off on changes to introduce new protections against rent bidding. These will come into effect for any new listings from this Saturday, 17 December.

What is rent bidding? What are the new protections against rent bidding? Will the new protections be effective?
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Pets & renting: what does the community have to say?

Thu, 08/12/2022 - 10:32
Sonny the renting Chihuahua
The NSW Government has just closed a 6-week consultation on keeping pets in rental homes. In addition to the Tenants' Union's policy submission, we created a Make Renting Fair campaign community submission, highlighting the lived experiences of renters all across NSW. 
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Improving renting laws for people experiencing domestic violence

Tue, 06/12/2022 - 15:00
simple icon of a house breaking apart through the roof and wall
The Government is currently undertaking a statutory review of the domestic violence provisions. Along with Women's Legal Service NSW and Domestic Violence NSW undertook a survey to help us identify and evidence key concerns and inform our recommendations to the review. Our submission draws on these survey results, along with the experience of advocates from the statewide network of Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Services who provide support to renters to use the domestic violence provisions within the Residential Tenancies Act.
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Standing Strong – Tenant Advocates Conference

Mon, 05/12/2022 - 12:59
Tenant Advocates
In November 2022 almost 100 Tenant Advocates and guests gathered on Yuin Country for our Annual Conference. The theme of the conference this year was "Standing Strong" – in reference to the work Tenant Advocates do supporting tenants, especially through tough times like the last few years. 
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Electricity is a hot topic but little has changed for residents in land lease communities

Mon, 28/11/2022 - 11:46
Electricity "mushroom"
There have been a number of consultations, reviews and inquiries into electricity in NSW over the past couple of years. The Tenants’ Union provided submissions to a number of these inquiries raising the numerous issues that are impacting renters in NSW around electricity. 
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Margaret Reckless faces further challenges

Mon, 28/11/2022 - 11:27
Older women standing in front of pod village
The Tenants’ Union of NSW has been following and supporting Margaret Reckless' fight for her rights in the residential land lease community she has lived in for the past six years. Over that time she has had some great wins which have led to positive outcomes for many other residents living in land lease communities across NSW
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Research: Northern Rivers floods expose flaws in NSW housing system

Fri, 25/11/2022 - 12:01
Houses under brown water due to floods, Lismore 2022
As flooding impacts more NSW communities, new research from UNSW City Futures Research Centre, jointly commissioned by the Tenants' Union of NSW along with Mission Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Social Futures, The Salvation Army Australia, Australian Red Cross shows action needs to be taken to safeguard regional Australians against homelessness and displacement as severe weather events become more common.
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Tenants' Union Annual Report 2021-22

Mon, 21/11/2022 - 14:17
Annual Report 2021-2022
The 2021-2022 financial year began with Sydney under a strict four-month lockdown and finished with severe weather, flooding, and a deepening housing crisis. Through these challenging times, the Tenants' Union has maintained our resilience and deep commitment to supporting NSW renters. Whether it's through online resources, advocacy or supporting the advice provided by the network of Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services, the Tenants' Union works with and for renters, for housing justice. While the actions and impact of the Tenants’ Union this year are too many to mention, the Annual Report covers the big highlights...
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Homes for people: Housing solutions for everyone

Wed, 16/11/2022 - 15:10
Homes for people event at NSW Parliament House, November 2022
In November the Tenants' Union of NSW, along with our Homes for People coalition partners, organised a parliamentary briefing to launch the election advocacy platform Homes for People: Housing Solutions for Everyone. Homes for People coalition are calling for housing reform that will create the homes people want and need; homes that provide shelter, safety, stability, and comfort.

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