Housing News Digest
Housing News Digest
The Tenants' Union Housing News Digest compiles our pick of items from all the latest tenancy and housing media, sent once per week, on Thursdays.
Below is the Digest archive from November 2020 onwards. From time to time you will find additional items in the archive that did not make it into the weekly Digest email. Earlier archives are here, where you can also find additional digests by other organisations.
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Archive
Tenancy law has changed in NSW
Tenants' Union of NSW (No paywall)On 19 May 2025, new tenancy laws came into effect in NSW. After many years of campaigning, the changes in the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 represent a significant improvement for NSW renters. The Act has now made 'no grounds' evictions unlawful, made it a little easier to have pets in your home, and improved rental payment rules. In October 2024, rent increases were capped at once yearly for most agreements, and fees for background checks were banned. Other changes that have also come into effect are that toilets must be dual flush to meet water efficiency standards, and the NSW Rental Commissioner will sit on the Rental Bond Board. There are certain other changes that have yet to come into effect. This page will continue to be updated as we share what we know about the changes and how they affect renters.
# Must read, TUNSW in the media, Research alert NSW, Eviction, Rent.Laws ending no fault evictions come into effect in NSW
ABC (No paywall)Leo Patterson Ross, the CEO of the Tenants' Union of NSW, say the new rental laws will make a positive difference, but still leave loopholes for landlords. Changes to rental laws in New South Wales that take effect on May 19 require landlords to provide reasons to end a lease. NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones said removing "no-grounds eviction" corrected the power imbalance between renters and landlords while still protecting landlords' rights.
# TUNSW in the media, New policy announcement, Video NSW, .Landlord ordered to pay tenant compensation amid calls for landlord register
Elloise Farrow-Smith ABC (No paywall)A cloud hovers over rental life. Step a foot wrong and you can end up on a national renter "name and shame" list. But what happens when landlords behave badly? In one recent case in New South Wales, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) ordered a landlord to pay a Mullumbimby renter $7,684 for causing "stress, constant frustration and continued intimidation". The tenant, Stephanie Humble, says it was never about the money.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-19/calls-for-landlord-regist…
# Must read, TUNSW in the media NSW, Rent.Eviction notices for Lake Illawarra's homeless, nomadic people living at Kully Bay Park
Brooke Chandler and Nick McLaren ABC (No paywall)More than a dozen homeless and nomadic people living in a public car park in southern Wollongong are petitioning against an eviction notice issued by state authorities. The Kully Bay Park site on the edge of Lake Illawarra has become a popular accommodation spot in recent years and is a collection of tents, caravans and campervans. There are no public toilets or showers in or near the car park, leading to concerns about public hygiene.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-20/kully-bay-homeless-receiv…
# Must read NSW, Discrimination, Eviction, Rent.Labor played the Medicare card in its victory. Now it wants to own housing
Alexandra Smith The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)NSW Labor heavyweights have established a new campaigning arm of the party to elevate housing to a “cause not just policy” akin to its long-held support for workers’ rights and Medicare. On the back of the party’s federal success in using Medicare as the centrepiece of its election campaign, Labor for Housing has been established to campaign for YIMBYism and ensure the party becomes defined by its commitment to solving the housing crisis, according to one of its founders.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/labor-played-the-medicare-ca…
# Must read NSW, Rent.New era for renters as reforms come into effect today
The Lismore App (No paywall)From today, people who rent or will start renting properties in Lismore and the Northern Rivers will face regulation changes that will give them more security. Three key changes of legislation come into force as a result of the NSW Government’s reforms to make renting fairer in NSW. Delivering on a key election commitment to the state’s 2.3 million renters, from today the following legislation comes into force:
Ending of no-grounds evictions – owners will now be required to provide a valid reason to end all lease types, set out in legislation, increasing security and transparency for renters.
https://lismoreapp.com.au/NewsStory/new-era-for-renters-as-refor…
# Must read NSW, Eviction.'Lord Mayor' Mick has lived at this unofficial camp site for years. Now he has to get out
Glen Humphries Illawarra Mercury (Paywall)Kully Bay campers Justin Oysten and Mick Gallagher have been served with notices to pack up and leave the Lake Illawarra site in 28 days. Campers at Kully Bay – some of whom have lived at the side of Lake Illawarra for years and say they have nowhere else to go – have been handed eviction notices, giving them just weeks to leave. The letters, handed out or slipped in caravan doors at Warrawong by an unidentified person accompanied by police on Friday are from the state government and say all campers must pack up and leave by June 13. “Failure to comply with the actions within the specified timeframes may result in compliance and enforcement action,” the letter stated.
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction.No-grounds evictions: NSW renters to get more protection from later this May as new rules make renting fairer
Demi Huang 7 News (No paywall)NSW renters will be better protected when new rules that will stop landlords from evicting tenants without a good reason kick in this month. It’s one of several changes – from May 19 – aimed at delivering more security and fairness in one of the world’s least affordable rental markets. Under the reforms, landlords in the state must give a genuine reason to end any type of lease. The move will make it harder for landlords to kick tenants out just to hike up the rent. Tenants on fixed-term contracts will also get longer notice periods, giving them at least 60 days to find a new place if they’re asked to move.
https://7news.com.au/news/no-grounds-evictions-nsw-renters-to-ge…
# Hot topic NSW, Eviction, Rent.