Tenants’ Union welcomes new renting laws

Media release, 4 November 2009

The Tenants’ Union of NSW today welcomed the release of draft legislation that would represent the most wide-ranging reform of the State’s renting laws in more than 20 years.

‘Our first impressions are that most of the provisions appear to be sensible improvements on the current law,' said Chris Martin, Senior Policy Officer for the Tenants’ Union.

‘Some are very significant improvements. The provisions about tenant databases are especially welcome, with new rules about when a person can be listed and disputes about listings to be resolved by the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal.’

‘We don’t support every measure in the draft legislation, and there are some problems that this legislation does not address’, said Mr Martin.

‘It does not stop landlords from ending tenancies without a reason, which makes renting unnecessarily insecure.

‘And the legislation continues to leave out boarders and lodgers, who remain vulnerable to exploitation and unlawful treatment by their landlords.’

The Tenants’ Union urged the Government to continue reforming the law after the draft legislation is introduced. ‘The law has to keep up with changes in the rental market and the emergence of new issues,’ said Mr Martin.

‘For example, there’s growing concern that safety should be improved in rental housing – such as through the use of childproof window fastenings, and electrical safety switches. These things should be in the next round of tenancy law reform.’