NSW residents who have experienced rental law violations might now have an institution to turn to, as the state government introduces a new taskforce to counter unfair rental practices.
The new dedicated Rental Taskforce has been designated the task of holding landlords and real estate agents accountable, addressing rental law violations in what the NSW government is calling the 'most significant rental reforms in more than a decade.'
With an $8.4 million investment, NSW Fair Trading’s Rental Taskforce will analyse activities and trends within the rental market and conduct compliance activities such as inspections, audits, and blitzes to prevent and act on breaches of the law.
The new taskforce is a multi-disciplinary team with new and existing resources drawn from across NSW Fair Trading, and led by a newly appointed Rental Taskforce Manager reporting to the NSW Rental Commissioner, Trina Jones.
The new body has three priorities in its sights which may be all too familiar with renters across the state.
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- Ending solicited rent bidding
- Implementing renting reforms to prevent no grounds evictions
- Ensuring improved responses to repairs and maintenance in the rental market
The NSW Government says it is also working to deliver cost of living relief to renters, by delivering a Portable Rental Bond Scheme, which it says is due in the second half of this year.
Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said the government understands more people are renting, and they are renting for longer, with the state's more than 2.3 million renters standing to benefit from a "more equitable market" with more oversight provided by the enforcement.
“Our inspectors will be out in full force to ensure real estate agents and landlords are complying with new and existing rental laws to ease the stress placed on renters."
“While the majority of agents and landlords are doing the right thing, this $8.4m investment targets bad actors who make life tougher for renters.
Leo Patterson Ross, CEO of the NSW Tenants Union said "For too long, renters have been carrying the burden of dodgy behaviour. It is vital that such an important essential service as renting your home has an active and visible regulator to hold people to account for failing to deliver a fair renting experience."
“We welcome the investment and the impact it will have, and we look forward to seeing further investment as needed in both regulatory activities and support services for renters into the future.”
For more information on changes to NSW rental laws, please visit the NSW Fair Trading website.
