There’s been a little bit of buzz lately around third party rent payment services, especially across social media. So, what exactly are these services, and are they a good idea?

Third party rent payment (3PRP) services are services that will take money out of your bank account and put it in your rent account at the real estate agency. Many of you are probably familiar with these services – I know I’ve used them myself in quite a few of the rentals I’ve lived in. These services can be helpful for some renters, for a variety of reasons, but we know there are significant drawbacks.

Like many Sydneysiders who rent, I live in an apartment that, in winter, is perpetually flippin’ freezing. My apartment is one of five in a subdivided former townhouse, and the bathroom and storage room of my apartment are an add-on to the back of the property, outside of the property’s original brick walls. You can actually see to the outside through the crack between the brick wall back of the original house and the walls of the added section. The door to the added section has a large gap underneath, and doesn’t close properly.

Right now, a rental crisis is unfolding across much of regional NSW.  With so few properties available to rent across many parts of the state, there are often dozens if not hundreds of applicants for every property, and renters are becoming desperate to find a home. We are hearing directly from renters, as well as from regional Tenant Advocacy Services that some agents and landlords are taking the opportunity presented by such a 'tight market' to encourage 'rent bidding' to maximise income and exploit renters.

This piece was originally published in Parity, Australia's national homelessness publication.

As you sit, flicking through Parity, thinking about the kind of housing system you would create if it were up to you - would you intentionally design a type of home that is so small and offers such a poor experience that it counts as a form of homelessness? I hope that you would not.

This piece was originally published in Parity, Australia's national homelessness publication.

Pamela Hunter is the Community Services Manager at VERTO – who run the South West NSW Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service. This blog post was originally published at www.verto.org.au/blog. Thanks to VERTO and Pamela for allowing us to republish.