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Tenants' Union news

Also check out our blog, Tenant News archive, media appearances, and Housing News Digest.
For factsheets and sample letters, please see Tenancy info.

 

Support for JobSeeker claimants

Welfare Rights Centre
The Welfare Rights Centre has launched a campaign to let new JobSeeker claimants know that help and support are available. If you are struggling with a Centrelink decision about your JobSeeker claim or another social security matter, you can call the specialist lawyers at Welfare Rights Centre for free legal assistance.
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Rent affordability in COVID-19: Anglicare report

Cover of Anglicare Affordability snapshot
Today Anglicare released the latest version of its Affordability Snapshot which looks at the number of available and affordable properties for people on low incomes.
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Being evicted? Can you share your story or photo?

Kings Cross
Although there is a moratorium on evictions in NSW, it won't stop all evictions for all renters. Now more than ever, it's important to share your story. If you are facing eviction and you are willing to speak publicly, please get in touch.
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The NSW evictions moratorium: an explainer

Wooden cut out of house, small piles of coins placed beside the cut out.
Yesterday (15 April) the measures announced by the NSW Government on Monday to support renters kicked into gear. This means NSW now has implemented a 6 month moratorium on evictions, but it’s complicated. It doesn't cover all evictions, or all renters. This blog post tries to answer some of your immediate questions. Who exactly does the moratorium cover? How will it work in practice? And what about the rent?
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Are evictions stopped in NSW? Yes. But...

A stop on evictions! But...
From Wednesday 15th April the NSW Evictions Moratorium came into effect. So there is a stop on evictions, at least for 60 days – but not on all evictions and not for all people. For more detail, read our series of resources covering the eviction moratorium, rent and other issues during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Clarity for renters as stop on evictions announced

buildings with covid shapes hovering in the sky
The Tenants’ Union of NSW welcomes this morning’s announcement from the NSW Government confirming that protection for renters is on its way. We understand the package includes a temporary stop on evictions, a requirement for landlords to engage in meaningful negotiations and greater advocacy support for tenants.
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Tenants’ Union leadership – from strength to strength

Leo on ABC News
The Tenants’ Union is pleased to announce Leo Patterson Ross as our new Chief Executive Officer. Leo has worked in housing and community development for almost two decades – including as a Tenant Advocate, Advocacy & Research Officer, and most recently as Tenants’ Union Senior Policy Officer. Throughout this time Leo has fought passionately for renters’ rights – with justice around land and housing as his driving goal.
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Uncertainty and fear: evictions during the pandemic

woman looking at a phone
"Isn’t there supposed to be a ban on evictions at the moment?"

Two weeks ago Prime Minister Scott Morrison, following a meeting of national cabinet, announced states and territories had agreed to put a moratorium on evictions for the next six months for people in financial distress, unable to meet their rental commitments. Local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services have been flooded with calls the last few weeks from people seeking advice in the context of the COVID19 health crisis.
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Why coronavirus impacts are devastating for international students in private rental housing

Man sitting at a desk in a dark room
About half of international students in Australia are private renters and more than half of them rely on paid work to pay the rent, but most of the casual jobs they depend on have been lost in the coronavirus pandemic. The results of a recent survey (conducted pre-COVID-19) of international students living in private rental accommodation suggest up to half of them may now be unable to pay their rent. Many also live in quite crowded conditions, so will struggle to self-isolate even if they don’t lose their current housing.
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How the COVID-19 pandemic may impact land lease communities

Fist bump
There is no doubt we are living in strange and worrying times where everything is changing almost on a daily basis, including the law. The Tenants’ Union has had a number of enquiries from land lease community residents about the impacts of COVID-19, which we will address in this special issue of Outasite Lite.
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