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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.

 

A brighter future?

Parks forum
We are approaching the end of another year and have reached the third anniversary of the commencement of the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013 (the Act). In this issue of Outasite Lite we provide an update on electricity usage charges, site fees and site fee increases, operator conduct, local government regulations, the Ombudsman and celebrate the Parks Forum turning 20!
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Disrupted – the consumer experience of renting in Australia

Disrupted – the consumer experience of renting in Australia
Fear of eviction, properties in disrepair and just getting by are the common experience of renting in Australia. "Disrupted – the consumer experience of renting in Australia", is the second report commissioned by CHOICE, National Shelter, and the National Association of Tenant Organisations (NATO), that delves into the renting experiences of our country’s renters.
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Meet Rita – Tenants' Advice Service Coordinator

Rita Wilkinson
Rita Wilkinson is the Tenancy and Financial Inclusion Manager at Metro Assist, and the Coordinator of the Southern Sydney Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Service. This interview was originally published by Metro Assist as part of their spotlight on dedicated, long-serving staff, who have been with the service for between 10 and 20 years. We'd also like to extend our congratulations and thank Rita for all the great work she does!
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The sale of Millers Point properties has ended: it has made inequality worse

Millers Point - not for sale photo
With the sale of the final two terrace houses on Saturday, 3 November 2018, Property NSW announced the end of the Millers Point sales program. Announcement of the successful tender for the sale of the Sirius building is expected any day now. We'll take this moment to reflect on a number of ways to remember this chapter.
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Changes coming to renting in NSW – Residential Tenancies Act 2010

woman using loudhailer
You may have heard that changes are coming to renting laws in NSW. Learn more about the changes, how they will affect you and and when the changes will start.
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The Limits of Rights and Protections: Housing as an Essential Service

Out of order sign
Public policy relating to renting and tenancy is typically approached through two competing conceptions: consumer protection and human rights - are we regulating an economic exchange or ensuring that everyone has a roof over their heads? The problems resulting from these, governments resistant to enforceable rights mechanisms and not all tenancies being commercial transactions, mean too many people are denied adequate housing. Perhaps it’s time to explore a different way of framing this issue: through the lens of access to housing as public service provision.
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‘Ending homelessness together’: Tenancy team reaches out to the community for Homelessness Week

Fern and Ivana at Homelessness Week
In order to raise awareness about homelessness, the WSCLC tenancy team WESTS ran a stall in Centenary Square, Parramatta for Homelessness Week on August 6. Tenant Advocates Miriam, Rachael, Fern, Ivana, and Program Coordinator, Franya, were the forces behind the stall on the day. The team handed out an excess 200 showbags, which included information about WSCLC’s services and critical material on tenants’ rights.
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NEWTAAS 2018 Annual Report

NEWTAAS Annual Report
The New England and Western Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Service had another busy year in 2017-2018. Our staff are a small but tight-knit team. We’re dedicated and hard-working because we know just how serious the work that we do is. We often have a direct impact on a family’s capacity to stay in their home, and that is a very serious responsibility.
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Rent Choice Assist launched

FACS logo
Yesterday Minister Goward announced Rent Choice Assist – this is a private rental subsidy that can support people at risk of homelessness to maintain their rentals with assistance for up to three years.
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Waterloo Redevelopment Masterplan Process Whiteboard Animation launched

Waterloo Redevelopment Masterplan Process Whiteboard Animation
A new video outlining the process for developing the Waterloo Redevelopment Masterplan Process has been launched. The aim of the whiteboard animation project is to provide independent information to the whole of the Waterloo community and key stakeholders on the Waterloo masterplan process, and to encourage the community to have its voice heard as part of the process through an engaging, original and innovative medium.
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