Australia’s housing crisis has seen the price of purchased properties and rental prices soar since the start of the global pandemic in 2020.
Over the years, housing demand has outstripped supply leading to record high prices as buyers took on larger debts to secure housing.
Those unable to get into the property market were left with rental prices almost doubling as rental availability dropped below 1 per cent across major cities.
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A report released on Monday called Rights at risk: Rising rents and repercussions, by ACOSS/UNSW Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership, National Shelter and the National Association of Renter Organisations (NARO), found that seven out of 10 renters feared asking their landlord for repairs in case their rent increased, were blacklisted or evicted.
NARO spokesperson Leo Patterson Ross said the report wasn’t surprising.
“This report validates what renters across Australia already know,” he said.
“Despite extensive rental laws on paper, this report exposes the stark gap between legislation and reality for Australian renters.
“Weak oversight of rental costs, property standards, and industry practices have denied renters the benefits of a safe, stable and healthy home.
“Federal, state and territory governments across Australia must act to empower renters through better funding tenant advocacy, ensuring fair renting rules, robust and visible regulatory enforcement, and providing genuine housing choices.”
The report said that 68 per cent of renters fear that asking for a repair would lead to a rent increase, 56 per cent fear it would lead to eviction and 52 per cent fear being placed on a blacklist that would prevent them renting another property.
The figures are worse for renters in disadvantaged groups — especially renters who are unemployed, renters with low education and renters with disability.
The report found 50 per cent live in homes that need repairs and 10 per cent need urgent repairs.
As well as 31 per cent of rental homes have pests such as cockroaches and ants, 24 per cent have leaks or flooding, 21 per cent have issues with hot water, while 18 per cent have mould.
The study, which surveyed 1019 people who rent private property, also found a third of renters would be unable to afford their rent if it went up by 5 per cent.
The report notes that rents have surged by 47 per cent in the past five years and calls for nationwide rental increase limits.
Lead author of the report, Dr Chris Martin, said the report highlights the fear renters experience.
“The median rent for new tenancies has risen a massive 47 per cent over the past five years, creating an atmosphere of worry as the majority of renters (68 per cent) express concerns that requesting repairs will lead to increased rent,” he said.
“Even worse, our research found that people who are unemployed or who have disabilities experience more rent increases and are more concerned about asserting their rights than the general rental population.”
The ACOSS/UNSW-led Partnership, along with National Shelter and NARO, are calling for:
- A limit to the amount and frequency of rent increases
- Improvement to the legal security of renters, by abolishing no-grounds evictions and strengthening protections
- More funding for tenants’ advice services
- A raise in the rate of income support, especially the JobSeeker payment
- Boosting the supply of social housing to meet need
ACOSS chief executive Dr Cassandra Goldie AO said the research highlighted the serious failings of Australia’s housing market.
“It is completely unacceptable that people in the private rental market are nervous about asking for essential repairs because they fear a rent increase or eviction notice,” Goldie said.
“Everyone deserves to be able to live in secure homes without the constant fear of losing their home.
“We urge state and federal governments to work together to cap rent increases, abolish no-grounds evictions and boost social housing to ensure people on low incomes have safe, secure and affordable homes.”