Tenants share horror stories as report exposes appalling living conditions
Many renters are living in fear that a request for repairs could mean a rent increase, or eviction, new research shows. Photo: Getty
Renters have taken to social media to share horror stories following the release of a report revealing that Australians who rent are living in substandard conditions and plagued by fear of eviction and rent rises.
The report, ‘Disrupted’: The consumer experience of renting in Australia’, found that 51 per cent of renters in Australia live in a house that needs repairs. Many are afraid that making a repair request could get them evicted.
This is what it’s like to #RentInOZ – we’re talking mould that makes you sick, ovens that don’t work, windows that won’t close. Full @NationalShelter #nato and @choiceaustralia report https://t.co/Ryr1CU6wj5 pic.twitter.com/CREU93Kyli
— Erin Turner (@ErinLTurner) December 4, 2018
The research by leading consumer and tenancy groups CHOICE, National Shelter and the National Association of Tenant Organisations – found that more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of Australian renters worry that making a request for repairs could lead to a rent increase. Some 44 per cent fear such a request might get them evicted.
Nearly one in 10 renters had previously been evicted “without grounds” while a similar number feared they would be forced to leave their homes in the next 12 months.
On Wednesday, renters took to social media to share photos and stories of real life rental nightmares using the hashtag #RentinOz, which trended on Twitter in Australia following the report’s launch.
https://twitter.com/aryan__g/status/1070093740507721728
https://twitter.com/patrick_veyret/status/1070063243492646912
Renters with a disability face discrimination
The report also shone a spotlight on the discrimination and “additional challenges and barriers” faced by renters with a disability.
People with a disability are almost 2.5 times more likely to experience issues with home inspections from their landlord than other people who rent. In all, 16 per cent had been served a “without grounds” eviction, compared to 9 per cent of all renters, the report found.
“My #RentInOz experiences include having to pay for removalists after a no-grounds eviction – my disability means I can’t do much of this myself,” Twitter user El Gibs wrote.
“I also got needed home modifications knocked back, which would have made my home more accessible. This happens far too often.”
Calls to ban “no-cause” evictions
The report called for a nationwide ban on “no-grounds” evictions.
“Banning no-grounds eviction across Australia would provide more secure housing for Australians who rent,” it said. “Let’s ensure Australians who rent have the security they need to create homes, build lives and raise families.”
It doesn't happen every time –
but it can happen any time.#RentInOz #MakeRentingFair https://t.co/IrVvO6d5td pic.twitter.com/KPMC26rPlg— Make Renting Fair in NSW (@RentingFairNSW) December 4, 2018
The report also highlighted affordability and cost of living pressures, finding many Australian renters lived in a “precarious financial position”.
Two in every five Australians who rent (40 per cent) would find a 10 per cent rent rise “very difficult to afford”, while 43 per cent were finding it difficult to get by on their current income.
National Shelter executive officer Adrian Pisarski said the research showed “there’s a major problem with the quality of our homes”.
“Property lobbyists fight reform every step of the way, but good regulation helps everyone. Let’s support good landlords by bringing everyone up to their standard,” he said.
“We need a co-ordinated approach to rental standards, so we can make the relationship between people who rent and those who rent to us a positive one.”
My #rentinoz experience:
My old rental had 6 residents. One of two toilets broke, it took the landlord 3 months to fix it. The bathroom fan broke, the landlord didn’t fix it, we developed a serious mould problem. We got a rent increase because of too many “maintenance requests”
— Linda Przhedetsky (@lprzhedetsky) December 4, 2018
In my last rental I complained about a ceiling leak in a living area for 9 mths. The ceiling then collapsed during a storm. When I complained about the collapse the landlord was unhappy I didn't express the seriousness of the issue. 9 mths of photo updates insufficient #rentinoz
— Rhanna Collins (@rhanna_collins) December 4, 2018
Some experiences:
– Shower without ventilation, but it grew mushrooms
– Toilet broke, landlord took 3 weeks to find a mate that could fix it
– Two bedrooms had no windows or smoke alarms
– Heater broke, agent took 10 weeks to fix, in winter, cost us >$1,500 in power#rentinoz— fieldo85 (@fieldo85) December 4, 2018