Renters' Digest

September 27th

1. NSW renters could no longer be charged fees on ‘rent-tech’ platforms https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-tenants-would-not-be-charged-fees-for-paying-rent-under-proposed-laws-20240922-p5kcje.html
2. Sydney Real estate agents posts personal information of critics online https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-22/sydney-real-estate-agency-personal-information-critics/104373684?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link
3. NSW proposes legislation to require landlords to allow ‘reasonable’ pet requests https://www.9news.com.au/national/rental-rules-for-pets-change-nsw/e6e52ef7-c03d-445a-8e6b-d477f5413a7c
4. New online tool, ‘Rent Check’ allows you to compare your rent to houses in your area https://www.9news.com.au/national/rent-check-new-tool-to-check-if-tenants-are-paying-too-much-nsw/5d4b5bea-f655-48a9-be16-3bacc08dc3f0

20th September 2024:

1. ‘Rent tech’ platforms have renters paying a fee to pay their rent https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/sep/18/renttech-real-estate-ailo-snug-ignite-renters-ntwnfb
2. RMIT releases a new report on improving renting conditions https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/a-better-deal-the-new-plan-to-improve-conditions-for-renters/xxeg636fb
3. NSW will ban needing renters to pay for their own background checks https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-will-make-asking-renters-to-pay-for-background-checks-illegal/2a39824d-12c4-40a9-baf7-e5d3196349bd
4. Outback QLD council builds new homes to boost population amid housing crisis https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-11/cloncurry-council-builds-new-houses-to-grow-population/104332106

13 September 2024:

1. Nelson Alexander apologised after soliciting a bidding war https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/real-estate-agency-says-it-was-trying-to-help-landlord-in-rent-bidding-war-apology/q4ygavtuf
2. NCAT denied a case for a mould infestation because they cannot make binding decisions if the landlord lives interstate https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-09/nsw-interstate-landlord-rental-loophole-mould-ncat/104318934
3. Victorian government has made changes to short stay levy bill, affecting companies like Airbnb https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-27/housing-policy-airbnb-regulations-victoria/104273174
4. Major Australian Housing Report states ‘social housing’ will end housing crisis https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/key-takeaways-from-major-australian-housing-report/rkqesxrye
5. Tenants Victoria releases new renter factsheets https://tenantsvic.org.au/news/new-renter-factsheets/

6 September 2024:

1. Greens announced plans for a national renters protection authority. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/02/greens-appeal-to-renters-with-regulator-that-could-fine-real-estate-agencies
2. Victorian Socialists target renter’s votes in the upcoming election https://brunswickvoice.com.au/socialists-target-renters-votes/
3. National Housing Supply and Affordability Council chair Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz calls for more protection for renters. https://www.examiner.com.au/story/8753452/calls-to-come-under-one-roof-to-tackle-housing-crisis/
4. Suburbtrends’ September Rental Pain Index reveals that 68% of Australian suburbs are in extreme rental stress. https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2024/09/suburbtrends-rental-pain-index-september-2024-the-housing-crisis-persists/65245/

30 August 2024:

1. Jordan van den Lamb (@purplepingers) is running for Parliament with the Victorian Socialists. https://www.instagram.com/p/C_Hr2tWT-IN/?hl=en
   
2. FOI documents reveal that the Victorian Government is leaving thousands of public housing dwellings empty. https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/joal-s-landlord-is-leaving-her-old-home-empty-she-can-t-understand-why-20240822-p5k4dh.html
   
3. Better Renters has released a report on renter’s energy challenges. https://www.betterrenting.org.au/joule_thieves_renter_energy_survey_report
   
4. A North Melbourne car park has won out over an affordable housing project. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/28/melbourne-curzon-street-car-park-affordable-housing-project

23 August 2024:

1. The People's Commission into Australia's Housing Crisis have released their final report. https://everybodyshome.com.au/peoples-commission/final-report/
   
2. A homeless man has reoffended days after asking a judge to extend his sentence for two years, due to a lack of housing and support services. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-20/geraldton-wa-homeless-man-asks-for-two-years-jail/104242950
   
3. Residents of Gillarong, a remote Indigenous community in Western Australia, have filed a class action law suit against the Housing Authority and the State of WA due to the government's failure to repair state-owned houses. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-22/wa-indigenous-public-housing-class-action-launched/104189272
   
4. Lord Mayor Nick Reece has announced plans to redevelop CBD offices into apartments. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/irresistible-for-developers-the-lord-mayor-s-plan-to-turn-offices-into-apartments-20240820-p5k3qr.html
   
5. Community Legal Centres all around Australia are calling for the federal government to guarantee ongoing funding by December 2024. https://www.savecommunitylegalcentres.com/take-action