Sydney – news and analysis

 

Tenants' Union members stand behind a banner with the Tenants' Union logo. People are smiling and wearing Make Renting Fair shirts with the purple and blue logo on them. There are trees and lots of people in the background.

Tenants' Union joins May Day rally – workers rights and housing justice go hand in hand

May Day (International Workers’ Day) is an important tradition established in the 1800s. In many countries it is a public holiday and allows workers to rally around issues they are facing. 
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Graphic image depicting red box reading: In case of emergency break glass. Make Renting Fair logo behind glass.

In case of emergency break glass: rental reforms needed urgently

Almost everyday for the last few months the Tenants’ Union has received calls or emails from journalists asking us to talk about the rental crisis and its impact on people’s lives. They ask, “…
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Close up of Rod Smith, city in the background. He is smiling and has a blue shirt on.

Through a Renter's Lens: "We make our own homes"

Rod Smith is the winner of the People category in the Tenants' Union’s recent photography competition. This week he dropped into our offices to pick up his framed winning photograph and we…
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Cameras

Through a Renter's Lens – photo competition

Over the last few months we have been delighted to host a statewide competition and exhibition of renters' photography. We were thrilled with the number and quality of entries we received…
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Tenants' Union CEO Leo: "How parties are addressing the problems renters face may be a deciding factor come 25 March"

The 2023 NSW election could be a renters' election #RentersElection2023

The 2023 NSW state election comes in the middle of a rental housing crisis. As voters head to the polls renters' issues will matter, and how parties are addressing the problems renters face…
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Tenant Advocates

Standing Strong – Tenant Advocates Conference

In November 2022 almost 100 Tenant Advocates and guests gathered on Yuin Country for our Annual Conference. The theme of the conference this year was "Standing Strong" – in reference…
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Annual Report 2021-2022

Tenants' Union Annual Report 2021-22

The 2021-2022 financial year began with Sydney under a strict four-month lockdown and finished with severe weather, flooding, and a deepening housing crisis. Through these challenging times, the…
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Home, two feet at a door mat that reads 'home' leading in to a house

The insecurity and uncertainty of renting: 'A constant exercise in weighing up options.'

At the recent Briefing on Healthy Homes for Renters held at NSW Parliament on 13 October 2022, Sarah* shared her experience renting her home. Though a lawyer and academic researcher, Sarah…
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Heat map re evictions

Who is using the Tribunal and why?

We are always trying to better understand what is happening for NSW renters. We want to make sure we can identify the problems and pressures renters are experiencing, as well as whether the…
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Group of housemates

Evicted! A comedy about renting in Sydney

Evicted! is a new comedy about renting in Sydney. The film won the audience award for best feature at the 2022 Sydney Film Festival. It follows a ragtag bunch of millennial housemates who get…
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specimen jars showing dirty water

Residents battle for clean water

Residents of a land lease community in western metropolitan Sydney have been forced to do battle over the quality of their drinking water. They have been concerned for a considerable period of…
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Rent Increase Negotiation Kit graphic with money and a mobile phone

Landlords hiking rents: what can we do?

Over the past year we have seen rents in NSW – and across Australia – increasing at a significant rate and by a significant amount. In this blog we look at what renters can do, including looking…
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