A study that surveyed 1,019 people renting in the private sector across Australia also found that a third of them would be unable to afford their rent if it went up by 5%.
Almost seven in ten people who rent privately worry about asking for repairs in case they face a rent increase, according to research by the ACOSS/UNSW Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership, National Shelter and the National Association of Renter Organisations (NARO).
The report, titled Rights at risk: Rising rents and repercussions, found half (50%) of renters live in homes that need repairs, and one in 10 (10%) need urgent repairs.
The survey found almost one in three (31%) rental homes have pests such as cockroaches and ants, almost one in four (24%) have leaks or flooding and one in five (21%) have issues with hot water, while almost one in five bathrooms (18%) have mould.
The report notes that rents have surged by a staggering 47% in the past five years and calls for nationwide rental increase limits.
It finds that 68% of renters fear asking for a repair would lead to a rent increase, 56% fear it would lead to eviction and 52% fear being placed on a blacklist that would prevent them from renting another property.
The figures are worse for renters in disadvantaged groups, unemployed renters, and those with low education and disability.
“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,” said Dr Cassandra Goldie AO, ACOSS CEO, noting the research highlighted the serious failings of Australia’s housing market. “Everyone deserves to be able to live in secure homes without the constant fear of losing their home.”
Goldie urges 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.
“This research highlights the difficulties faced by many people renting privately in a flawed system,” said Dr Chris Martin, the report’s lead author and UNSW’s CityFutures Research Centre senior fellow. “The median rent for new tenancies has risen a massive 47% over the past five years, creating an atmosphere of worry as the majority of renters (68%) express concerns that requesting repairs will lead to increased rent. 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.”
Meanwhile, Leo Patterson Ross, NARO spokesperson, said that despite extensive rental laws on paper, the report exposes the stark gap between legislation and reality for Australian renters. Weak oversight of rental costs, property standards and industry practices has 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,” Ross said.
For John Engeler, National Shelter chair, people who rent a home deserve security, stability and certainty around maintenance, repairs and rent increases. While many jurisdictions have made tremendous progress towards making renting fair over the last two years, far too often, rights on paper do not translate into a secure, stable and affordable home, especially for people facing disadvantage.
“This is a particularly timely and important report looking at the consumer experience of renting in Australia. We must continue to work to reform tenancy legislation and have adequate regulatory oversight of the private rental market so that the rights and responsibilities of landlords and renters are appropriately defined and balanced,” Engeler said.
Professor Attila Brungs, UNSW vice-chancellor and president, expressed the same sentiment, saying that the Rights at Risk report is a significant report at a crucial time, which reflects the importance of the university’s contributions through research that advances understanding and delivers positive societal impact.
“This report from the UNSW Sydney/ACOSS Poverty and Inequality Partnership provides critical, data-driven insights into the growing challenges facing renters in Australia, and how housing insecurity intersects with broader issues of inequality. Through the partnership, we are proud to bring rigorous research to the fore to inform public debate and drive for concrete changes to improve individual lives and support progress for all,” Brungs said.
Finally, Sharon Callister, Mission Australia CEO, said that the report further exposes the deepening crisis in Australia’s private rental market and the chronic shortfall in social housing. It makes clear that urgent reform is needed to ensure homes are safe, secure and genuinely affordable so that people and families can put down roots, have stability and certainty, and thrive in their communities.
“We strongly support the report’s recommendations to increase the supply of social housing and boost income support, critical for addressing housing insecurity and ending homelessness. We urge governments to act on these priorities without delay,” Callister said.
The ACOSS/UNSW-led partnership, along with National Shelter and NARO, is 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 rise in the rate of income support, especially the JobSeeker payment
- Boosting the supply of social housing to meet the need
Read also: ACOSS calls for bold action on the housing crisis
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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