Tenants’ group says, “We’re still fighting :
The group that represents tenants in New South Wales has praised the government’s ban on no-grounds evictions. However, they caution that more actions are needed.
The Tenants’ Union of NSW has identified loopholes that still exist, which could lead to discrimination and exploitation of renters.
“Millions of renters have experienced the negative impacts of no-grounds evictions in their lives,” CEO Leo Patterson Ross explains.
These impacts include hesitating to request repairs, negotiating rent increases, or needing to find a new home without justification.
He lauded the ban on no-grounds evictions, calling it “the single most significant change we can make to residential tenancies law.”
Despite commending the reforms, the Tenants’ Union also highlighted that these changes leave loopholes that some people may take advantage of.
“We are concerned that the Bill permits landlords to make arbitrary decisions regarding pets,” the union states.
Additionally, they pointed out that landlords can still discriminate against tenants with pets during the application process.
“As the new rules are put into action, we will remain vigilant in monitoring for any potential misuse,” they concluded.
Despite their concerns, the union characterizes the reforms as a “historic win” for renters in New South Wales.
They stated that these changes represent “a significant step toward a fairer and more balanced rental landscape” for everyone involved.
Premier Chris Minns expressed in a statement that the new legislation “brings the rental market into the 21st century.”
This statement highlights the importance of updating rental laws to better serve modern needs and expectations in housing.
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“Housing is the largest expense people face, and renters are now receiving a fairer deal,” he stated.
Meanwhile, industry bodies in New South Wales have not yet provided comments regarding the recent rental reforms.
Now, let’s review the four main changes that will occur under the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill 2024.
1. Evictions without cause
Beginning next year, landlords will not be permitted to evict tenants without a valid reason.
Instead, they may only evict a tenant if they have a legitimate cause for doing so.
This valid reason includes instances where the tenant has violated their rental agreement, such as failing to pay rent.
Additionally, a landlord can evict a tenant if they are selling the property or conducting significant renovations.
Lastly, landlords may also evict tenants if they intend to move into the property themselves.
2. Increases in rent
Landlords are now permitted to increase rent only once per year.
Previously, legal loopholes allowed them to raise the rent multiple times within a year for fixed-term leases shorter than two years.
This reform is now in effect.
3. Pets in rentals
Starting in early 2025, landlords will find it more challenging to impose a blanket ban on pets in their rental properties.
Additionally, renters will have the right to request permission to keep a pet in any property.
The landlord will then have 21 days to either grant or deny this request.
However, they can only refuse under specific legal grounds.
4. Hidden fees
It is now illegal for landlords and real estate agents to impose extra fees for rent payments, including requiring tenants to use apps that charge transaction fees.
Furthermore, landlords are prohibited from requiring rental applicants to pay for background checks.
