NSW Labor will hold a roundtable in January 2023, bringing together the NSW Tenants Union, Real Estate Institute of NSW, Tenancy Advocacy Services, Community Legal Centres, and community organisations to discuss what is needed to make renting fairer and ways to ease cost of living pressures.
Around one third of New South Wales residents live in rented properties – or 944,585 households.
Rent in Greater Sydney is up 28 per cent in the last 12 months. More than a third of NSW households spent more than 30 per cent of their household income on rent.
Labor recognises that helping renters requires a comprehensive policy to make renting fairer – but also an industry wide approach.
The roundtable will hear from advocacy organisations, renters and industry to hear about ways to address the housing and rental crisis.
A Minns Labor Government will clearly outline the grounds to which a lease may be terminated, implement a portal bonds scheme, ban secret rent bidding, and establish an NSW rental commissioner.
Renters across New South Wales are facing cost of living pressures, with many being forced to pay above the asking price to secure a home.
The Government has had 12 years to act, but they have ignored renters and refused to offer any real solutions to ease cost of living pressures facing renters.
A NSW Rental Commissioner will lead the implementation of our policy. NSW Labor’s roundtable will give stakeholders, renters and community organisations an opportunity to talk about the major issues facing renters right now.
Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
“NSW Labor wants to bring experts, community groups, renters and industry representatives together to tackle look at ways we can make renting better and fairer for people across the state.
“We have a rental crisis that needs urgent attention.
“It’s why Labor is calling on the Government to stand with us and pass sensible legislation around rental reforms including a portable bond scheme and banning rental bidding this year.
“This is all about making renting fairer and ensuring people have access to safe, secure and affordable housing whether you rent or own your own home.
Quotes attributable to Courtney Houssos, NSW Shadow Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation:
“For 12 years the Liberal-National Government has failed to support renters and find real solutions to increase housing supply.
“We understand the pressure renters are under. We have a comprehensive plan to provide short term relief for renters, but also address the broader issues in the housing market.
“Our roundtable will give advocates, renters and industry the opportunity to give us direct feedback as we finalise the priorities of our Rental Commissioner.
Quotes attributable to Rose Jackson, NSW Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness:
“Renters are facing impossible choices in NSW right now, putting up with unsafe housing, forced to pay higher rents through unfair rent-bidding or risk eviction and homelessness
“Voices from regional NSW will be an important part of the Fairer Renting Roundtable, because we know some regional communities are dealing with a severe rental crisis and need immediate and practical solutions from government.
CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER
COURTNEY HOUSSOS MLC
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR BETTER REGULATION & INNOVATION
ROSE JACKSON MLC
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS
