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Also check out our blog, Tenant News archive, media appearances, and Housing News Digest.
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Sandy Gilbert: Resident advocate

Sandy
Sandy Gilbert is an advocate for residents of land lease communities in the Tweed area and a member of the Residential Parks Forum. She agreed to share her story with us for this issue of Outasite.
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Rules of conduct

Outasite article
Schedule 1 of the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013 sets out the rules of conduct for operators and section 54 of the Act requires compliance with those rules. Taking action regarding operator conduct can be a difficult and stressful process and many home owners either don’t try or give up. Home owners have told the Tenants’ Union there is no way to enforce the rules of conduct and operators can behave in any way they want without fear of penalty. In this article we share two stories from home owners.
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Out now! Outasite issue 4

Outasite 2018 cover
Outasite issue 4 is hot off the presses and finding its way into mailboxes in land lease communities all over NSW. This issue contains articles including: Electricity usage charges; Site Fee Increase dispute at NCAT; Agreements; Abandonment; Local Government Regulations; Rules of conduct; Sandy Gilbert - Resident Advocate; Sale of home; Vale Christina; Home sales; Buyer beware.
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Mould and renting - share your experience!

Stylised text reads: Have you rented with mould? please take our survey
Tenants often report to us their experiences with mould and other infestations and the difficulties they have getting it resolved. We are collecting stories from tenants for submissions to a Federal Parliament inquiry.
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Survey for Aboriginal Renters

Ngurampaa by Millmullian
The Tenants Union of NSW and the Aboriginal Tenancy Services are currently working on an Aboriginal Renting Policy Platform. This document will be used to strengthen the voices of Aboriginal people who rent regardless of who your landlord may be. We want to gather as many views from Aboriginal people as possible. If you an Aboriginal person who rents, please take a few minutes to complete the survey here.
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Tenant Advocates speak out against unfair evictions

Tenant Advocates at the Inner Sydney Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service
Following the NSW government’s recent decision not to abolish ‘no grounds’ evictions as part of upcoming rental reforms, Nicole Kennedy (Tenancy Coordinator at Inner Sydney Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service at Redfern Legal Centre) spoke to Eastside Radio 89.7 FM about how these laws impact tenants.
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A longer lease on life: issues for older renters

Older people faces
With a surplus of $3.9 billion for 2016-17, the 2018 NSW State Budget had its winners and losers. The latter include seniors and renters. This blog examine some of the issues confronting older renters.
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Research: Energy efficiency in NSW social housing

radiator with text overlay. text reads "How energy efficient is your public or community housing home?"
Researchers at UNSW Sydney (The University of New South Wales), the University of Wollongong, CSIRO and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage are seeking volunteer research participants to learn about the energy efficiency and thermal comfort levels of public and community housing in NSW.
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Half of all apartments in NSW to have no say in short term letting rules

Picture reads "Half of all apartments in NSW to have no say in short term letting rules"
Today’s announcement from the NSW Government in relation to short term holiday lettings is disappointing as it will not effectively protect against the potential impacts of holiday lettings and excludes many tenants from engaging in community decisions.
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Track rents in your local area – new postcode tool for tenants

Postcode Rent Tracker graphic
Today the Tenants' Union has released the first version of a new tool to help tenants in NSW. We believe the more information people who rent have the better, and now using data directly from the Rental Bond Board, you can check what the latest rents data is for any postcode in NSW with the Rent Tracker Postcode Tool.
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