Rights at risk: Rising rents and repercussions
‘Rights at Risk’: Seven in ten people who rent their home worried about asking for repairs
National Shelter, alongside the National Association of Renters’ Organisations (NARO) and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)/UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership, is proud to release ‘Rights at Risk: Rising Rents and Repercussions’.
This report, prepared by Dr Chris Martin, Chris Hartley and Professor Hal Pawson at UNSW’s City Futures Research Centre, is the 26th research report published by the Partnership, which combines research and advocacy to look at the causes of inequality and poverty in Australia and propose new, game-changing solutions. It updates previous research by National Shelter, NARO and CHOICE on the consumer experience of renting in Australia: ‘DISRUPTED: The consumer experience of renting in Australia’ and ‘UNSETTLED: Life in Australia’s private rental market’.
The report highlights the tumultuous challenges of trying to find – and keep – a secure, affordable home in a deeply flawed and unfair system. In the last five years, many people who rent their home have faced huge rent increases, with a staggering 47% rent increase on average. A third of renters told researchers they would not be able to afford a further rent increase of even 5%. While some progress has been made, with most jurisdictions – except WA and the NT – now requiring landlords to provide ‘reasonable grounds’ from a list of prescribed reasons to terminate a tenancy, the consumer experience of renting a home in Australia remains difficult and unstable. A small majority of the people surveyed said they felt relatively secure in their home, and did not worry about having to move, but that feeling seemed to disappear as researchers probed further. Indeed, seven in ten renters said they did not dare, or worried about asking for repairs because they worried it would lead to a rent increase, or worse, eviction. And many did live in houses in need of repairs (50%), with some in need of urgent repairs (10%) to make their home safe and habitable.
In a media release highlighting the key findings of the research, John Engeler, Chair of National Shelter, said:
“People who rent their home deserve security, stability, and certainty around maintenance, repairs, and rent increases. Over the last two years, many jurisdictions have made tremendous progress towards making renting fair. But far too often, rights on paper do not translate into a secure, stable and affordable home, especially for people facing disadvantage.
This is a particularly timely and important report looking at the consumer experience of renting in Australia. We must continue to work to reform tenancy legislation and have adequate regulatory oversight of the private rental market so that the rights and responsibilities of landlords and renters are appropriately defined and balanced.”
