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 percent in the last 12 months. More than a third of NSW households spent more than 30 percent of their household income on rent.
The roundtable will hear from advocacy organisations, renters and industry to hear about ways to address the housing and rental crisis.
“NSW Labor wants to bring experts, community groups, renters and industry representatives together to look at ways we can make renting better and fairer for people across the state,” NSW Labor Leader, Chris Minns, said.
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.
“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,” NSW Shadow Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, Courtney Houssos, said.
“Our roundtable will give advocates, renters and industry the opportunity to give us direct feedback as we finalise the priorities of our Rental Commissioner.”
