Reports, submissions, research
Reports, submissions, research
Tenants' Union policy work involves analysing and advocating for change to policy as it affects NSW renters. We make submissions to inquiries and reviews across a range of legislation and policy areas.
Private renting
Rent Tracker Research Project, updated September 2023.
Submission: Review of Domestic Violence rental laws, December 2022.
Submission: Tenants' Union of NSW - Keeping Pets in Rental Homes, November 2022.
Submission: Make Renting Fair NSW - Keeping Pets in Rental Homes, November 2022.
Submission: Property and Stock Agents Regulation - Remaking Rules for Property Agents, July 2022.
Report: Eviction, Hardship and the Housing Crisis February 2022.
Report: Young Renters: We hear you! Key findings from our young renter survey and roundtables June 2021.
Report: Supporting Renters Through the Pandemic September 2020.
Submission: Residential Tenancies Regulation 2019 August 2019.
Report: Lives Turned Upside Down: NSW Renters' Experience of 'no grounds' evictions March 2019.
Submission: Easy and Transparent Trading August 2018.
Submission: Long Fixed-Term Residential Tenancy Agreements Jan 2017
TU's quick guide to the review of renting laws in NSW Jan 2016
Report: 5 years of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 Jul 2015
Comment: On the proposed repeal of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1899 Jun 2015
Briefing Paper: Unreasonable restrictions on children and other occupants in rental housing Oct 2014
Report: Residential Tenancies Act 2010 Mar 2012
Submission: Residential Tenancies Regulation 2010 Sep 2011
Submission: Residential Tenancies Bill 2009 Sep 2011
Public, community and affordable housing
Tenants' Union of NSW submission on the Waterloo South Plan, April 2022
Submission to Statutory Review of s154D and s154G of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 November 2019
Submission to the Review of the National Regulatory Scheme for Community Housing April 2019
Joint Letter Public Housing Bonds June 2018
Joint Letter re Inner Sydney Allocations March 2018
Comment: Tenancy Bonds for Public Housing Oct 2016
Submission Inquiry into Management of NSW Public Housing Maintenance Contracts, also available from NSW Parliament website (submission 18) February 2016
Briefing Paper: Public Housing - Antisocial Behaviour Bill 2015 Sep 2015
Submission: Sirius Building Heritage Sep 2015
Further Comment: On the 'antisocial behaviour' amendment bill Aug 2015
Preliminary Comment: On the 'antisocial behaviour' amendment bill Aug 2015
Submission: One Strike Discussion Paper Apr 2015
Submission: Social Housing Discussion Paper Mar 2015
Submission: The Senate Economic References Committee Inquiry into Affordable Housing Mar 2014
Submission: The Inquiry into Social, Public and Affordable Housing Mar 2014
Submission: Draft Public Housing Tenants Support Bill and Housing Payment Deduction Scheme Apr 2013
Submission: Location of social housing Jul 2011
Briefing Paper: Tenant fraud Bill Jul 2011
Submission: National Rental Affordability Scheme Mar 2011
Research Paper: Reshaping Public Housing and work disincentives Oct 2008
Land lease communities (residential parks)
Report: 5 years of the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013 August 2020
Report: Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013 February 2017
Submission: Review of Residential Parks Act 1998 Mar 2012
Strata law
Submission: Statutory Review of NSW Strata Scheme Laws April 2021
Submission: Reform of strata laws Aug 2015
Submission: Draft Strata Development Bill Oct 2014
Submission: Strata Schemes Management Bill Oct 2014
Submission: Strata and community title law reform Nov 2012
Boarders, lodgers and share housing
Submission: Boarding Houses Act 2012 review October 2019
Boarding House Act 5 Year Review March 2018
Report: Share Housing in NSW May 2017
Evaluation: TU Boarding House Education Project June 2016
Report: Analysis of registrable boarding houses and the roomshare market May 2014
Submission: Draft Boarding Houses Regulation 2013 May 2013
Submission: Draft standard form occupancy agreement for general boarding houses Apr 2013
Comment: Boarding Houses Bill 2012 Oct 2012
Briefing Paper: Registration and accreditation for residential services Mar 2012
Comment: Residential Tenancies Amendment (Occupancy Agreements) Bill 2011 Dec 2011
Policy Paper: Reforming marginal renting Jul 2011
Briefing Paper: Occupancy principles Jul 2011
Briefing Paper: Occupancy Agreements Jul 2011
Tax reform
Submission: NSW Government's Proposed Property Tax reform March 2021
Tenants' guide to tax reform May 2016
Policy: Land Tax Policy Jul 2014
Short-term holiday letting
Submission: Short-term rental accommodation – a new regulatory framework September 2019
Submission: Short-term Rental Accommodation Planning Framework November 2018
Research: The effects of Airbnb on rents in Sydney April 2017
Tribunal and other dispute resolution
Submission: Open Justice Review, Law Reform Commission February 2021
Submission: Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 Statutory Review July 2019
Submission: on Fair Trading Complaints Register Guidelines May 2018
Submission: Response to 'Justice for everyday problems: Civil Justice in NSW' consultation paper Feb 2017
Submission: Opportunities to consolidate tribunals in NSW Dec 2011
Other topics
Aboriginal Housing and Housing Activism in NSW, May 2023.
Submission to the Proposal for the PaintShop Precinct, August 2022
Submission to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Embedded Networks, July 2022
Submission to the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Older persons (over 55) and Homelessness, June 2022
Submission to the Productivity Commission's Housing and Homelessness Agreement Review March 2022
Submission to the NSW Government's Consultation on Energy Consumer Policies March 2022
Submission to the Regional Housing Taskforce September 2021
Submission to the Senate Inquiry on the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill also available from Parliament website (submission 215) March 2021
Submission to the Audit Office NSW, Responses to Homelessness January 2021
Submission on the Social Program for Energy Code November 2020
Submission on Explanation of Intention for proposed Housing Diversity SEPP September 2020
Submission: on A Housing Strategy for NSW - Discussion Paper August 2020
Submission: NSW Ageing Strategy July 2020
National Association of Tenants' Organisations' Submission to Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 inquiry into the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, also available from Parliament website (submission 449) June 2020
Submission to the United Nations: COVID-19 and the right to housing in Australia – focus on NSW June 2020
Briefing: Further supports required for renters during COVID-19 health crisis May 2020
Submission: Kickstarting the productivity discussion November 2019
Submission: Federal inquiry into the Adequacy of Newstart and Related Payments September 2019
Guide: A tenant's guide to the NSW election 2019 March 2019
Submission: Better Business Reforms December 2018
Submission: Federal inquiry into energy efficiency and low income rental homes Sept 2018
Presentation: NACLC Conference - 'Scraping it together' August 2018
Submission: Easy and Transparent Trading Consultation Paper August 2018
Briefing: Bond exit survey April 2018
Submission: on Protections for Residents of Long Term Supported Group Accommodation in NSW March 2018
Submission: Inquiry into land release and housing supply in NSW Sept 2017
Submission: Inquiry into elder abuse in NSW Nov 2015
Briefing Paper: Residual Current Devices Oct 2014
Research: Survey Report Affordable Housing and the New South Wales Rental Market Apr 2014
Submission: Review of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 Oct 2013
Submission: White Paper and Draft Metropolitan Strategy Jul 2013
Submission: Children and window safety consultation paper Apr 2013
Submission: NSW Fair Trading review of regulatory burden
Submission: Companion Animals Taskforce Jul 2012