The NSW Government is asking Central Coast residents to have their say in the latest raft of rental reforms before August 11.
The work to implement stage two of the Government’s rental reforms is underway, with consultations open across the state.
The Government is asking renters – along with owners and industry – for their views on critical changes to make renting fairer.
Through this process, people in NSW can comment on changes that will help transform the system.
The latest raft of changes will: end no grounds evictions by requiring a reason to end a lease; make it easier for renters to have pets; protect renters’ personal information and privacy; and make it easier to transfer rental bonds from one property to another.
Legislation is expected to be introduced by the end of the year.
You can have your say on the rental reforms until August 11 at https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw-rental-laws
Minister for Fair Trading and Better Regulation Anoulack Chanthivong said renters were under extreme pressure in a tight market and are also saddled with unfair and outdated rules that make life even harder.
“We’re getting on with our commitment to re-balance the equation, give renters more protections and let them get on with their lives,” she said.
“We want to hear from everyone because renters and owners need each other, and they both need a fair set of rules.
“This consultation will give people across the state a voice on what they think of changes to improve stability and fairness in the current rental environment and into the future.”
The Government is also taking steps to increase housing supply across the state with high-quality new homes to put downward pressure on rents.
This includes an audit of surplus public land that could be rezoned for housing, speeding up project approvals and establishing the NSW Building Commission.
The news comes as new quarterly data by CoreLogic and Domain reveal that rents continue to rise across the state, including on the Central Coast, with more renters facing an affordability tipping point and being priced out of having a secure home.
Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said people could stretch their budgets only so far.
“No matter what data you look at, rents are climbing across Australia and remain stubbornly high,” she said.
“More and more renters are hurting and reaching an affordability cliff.
“Cutting back on meals, medicines and heating are becoming terrifying realities for many tenants as they try to keep up with eye-watering rents.
“The worst housing crisis in living memory is stopping people from pursuing their life dreams like starting a family.
“We can’t accept more people making unhealthy sacrifices to make the rent, and we can’t accept escalating rents becoming the norm; national rents are more than 27 per cent higher than prior to the onset of COVID-19.”
Azize said the best way to end the crisis was to limit unfair increases and build more affordable and social housing.
“Social housing doesn’t just help those who need it most, it also frees-up more rentals in the process,” she said.
“We continue to call for the Federal Government to build 25,000 social homes every year to fix the housing emergency – and push state governments for limits to rent increases.”
Terry Collins