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 study, which surveyed 1,019 people who rent in the private sector across Australia, also found a third of renters would be unable to afford their rent if it went up by 5 per cent.
The report, titled Rights at risk: Rising rents and repercussions, found half of renters (50%) live in homes that need repairs and one in 10 need urgent repairs (10%).
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 per cent in the past five years and calls for nationwide rental increase limits.
It finds 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.
ACOSS CEO 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,” Dr 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.”
Lead author of the report, Dr Chris Martin, Senior Fellow at UNSW’s CityFutures Research Centre, said: “This research highlights the difficulties faced by many people renting privately in a flawed system. 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%) 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.”
Leo Patterson Ross, spokesperson for the National Association of Renters’ Organisations, said: "This report validates what renters across Australia already know. 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."
Chair of National Shelter, John Engeler, said: "People who rent their home deserve security, stability, and certainty around maintenance, repairs, and rent increases. Over the last two years, many jurisdictions have made tremendous progress towards making renting fair. But 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."
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said 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.”
Mission Australia CEO, Sharon Callister said: “This 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.”
The ACOSS/UNSW-led Partnership, along with National Shelter and NARO, are calling for:
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A limit to the amount and frequency of rent increases
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Improvement to the legal security of renters, by abolishing no-grounds evictions and strengthening protections
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More funding for tenants’ advice services
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A raise in the rate of income support, especially the JobSeeker payment
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Boosting the supply of social housing to meet need
Key facts and figures:
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73% of renters had a rent increase in the past year
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34% of renters would find a 5% rent increase difficult or very difficult to afford
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74% of renters experienced some defect or issue, while 50% said their home needed repairs
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68% are worried that asking for repairs could lead to a rent increase, while 56% feared eviction and 52% feared blacklisting
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Renters who are unemployed:
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77% had a rent increase in the past year
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82% would find a 5% increase difficult or very difficult to afford
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60% felt unable to assert their tenancy rights without worry
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71% feared that requesting repairs would trigger a rent increase
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Contact details:
Lauren Ferri: 0422 581 506