CAMPAIGN UPDATES

Happy new year!  In huge news this month we welcome a new Minister and a new principal supporter! 

In the recent cabinet reshuffle,  Minister Sue Ellery has taken responsibility for Commerce, Women’s Interests and Finance. As luck would have it, just prior to this appointment we had a meeting with the Minsiter to brief her on our campaign, and we look forward to working with her closely on these important reforms and delivering the Tenancy Ten.

Our campaign continues to strongly advocate to the State Government to make renting fair in WA. Representatives from Circle Green, Shelter WA, Anglicare and WACOSS have been meeting with a number of meetings with MPs and their advisers over the past month. In all meetings, the work of the campaign has been received very positively, with many MPs expressing support for our key asks. 

We welcomed the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia joining the Make Renting Fair alliance as a principal supporter, and thank them for their amazing support and work. 

The dire and worsening situation for WA renters continues to receive strong coverage in the media as more articles revealed the pressures renters were facing - while a compelling new study showed that Landlords sell to reap capital gains, not avoid rental reforms: contrary to the narrative being pushed by the real estate industry, with the study finding: 

"Tenancy law reforms were at the bottom of the list of reasons why investors sold their properties, research by the Australia Housing and Urban Research Institute found. The research also found no evidence of tenancy reforms in NSW in 2010 affecting the supply of rental properties in the state. The same number of rentals were added to the private rental sector after the changes as the previous trend, and ever fewer than expected exited." 

We’ve continued to share the experiences of renters from our Make Renting Fair 2022 survey, compiling these on our website and sharing across social media, to highlight the experiences of those at the forefront of the rental crisis. 

In particular, we've been working closely with renter Norelle Robinson who received a letter terminating her agreement after speaking to the media and sharing her experience about the condition of her rental. You can read more about Norelle's story and experience here. 

At the same time we've been using our supporter database  to encourage supporters to share and complete in the survey, attend the Renting With Confidence workshops, share the lived experience of renters and the stories we've been telling, and send a Christmas Card to their MP outlining their wishes for a an end to no grounds evictions, a minimum standard for renters and to stabilise rents. 

Wondering how you can support this incredible campaign? 

 Here’s Four things you can do right now to support us: 

#1 - Please consider joining the Alliance formally!  We would love to grow the number of organisations supporting Make Renting Fair. Drop a line to chantal@shelterwa.org.au to find out more.

#2 -Share our Renters Survey with your staff, clients and members and help us reach 1,000 renters! It takes 10 minutes and  will help us provide the most compelling evidence for long overdue changes  to our tenancy laws. Take the Survey Here.

#3 - Help us share the stories and lived experience of renters

Do you know or work with someone who’s had a had a negative experience of renting and would like to share their story with us?   Please get in touch - our new digital campaigner Georgia Blackburn is here to help  👉  georgiacblackburn@gmail.com or 0431 4278 14

#4 - Share a short video on why you support the campaign to Make Renting Fair

We’d love to feature your organisation on our facebook page, as a short video on why you support the campaing and the vital services you provide. Would anyone from your organisation like to share what yoú’re seeing directly in your work with renters, who are facing unprecedented stress, insecurity, debt and even homelessness? 

WIshing you a happy new year,  2023 is a good year to make renting fair. 

The Make Renting Fair campaign has been gaining momentum as we continue to advocate for much-needed tenancy law reforms in WA.

This month we've been focusing on the impact of no reason evictions, and have released a huge report on preliminary findings coming in from our 2022 Renters Survey on the impact of WA's unfair eviction laws and in particular, the way renters feel too scared assert their rights for things like repairs,  maintenance and even privacy.

You can find our media release here full report here. 

We found, based on over 200 responses so far, that:

• WA’s renter profile is extremely insecure. Almost one quarter of respondents were on rolling, periodic leases which can be ended without reason with 60 days’ notice. The majority (53 per cent) were on short term 12-month fixed term tenancies that can be ended at the end of the tenancy without reason. Just 4 per cent had a fixed term lease of 2 years.
• The experience of and fear for unfair evictions is significant. Over their entire history as a renter more than one in six respondents (15 per cent) had been evicted without any reason. 
• Fear of eviction without reason is translating to renters being too scared to assert their rights. When asked about their experience of making a request for repairs or maintenance in their current rental, 37 per cent reported being concerned the request could get them evicted, and 63 per cent were concerned the request might make the landlord less likely to renewal their lease. 
• The experience of retaliatory eviction is significant. 16 per cent of respondents reported they had a lease not renewed due to a request of their landlord during the tenancy. 
• The fear of no reason eviction is forcing tenants to live in homes with significant health, safety, and comfort issues. When asked about their current rental, 
  • 56 per cent reported issues with leaks, dampness or mould
  • 49 per cent reported issues with locks, doors and windows
  • 55 per cent reported difficulty keeping the property cool or warm
  • 32 per cent reported issues with hot water
  • 31 per cent reported storm or rain damage
  • 27 per cent reported a lack of fly screen; and 
  • 17% reported major structural repairs were needed
• The fear of no reason eviction is also forcing tenants to assert their right to quiet enjoyment and even endure invasions of privacy. 61 per cent of respondents are having a rental inspection every three months (currently allowed under WA tenancy laws) but 67 per cent are unhappy with the frequency of inspections and on average over half report feeling stressed or anxious about the frequency of inspections and anxious about the landlord taking photos or videos during the inspection. Alarmingly, 12% have caught a landlord or property agent going through my private belongings, cupboards or drawers. 

These survey results reaffirm why it is so important we have stronger tenancy protections for renters in WA. These results will unfortunately be unsurprising to the majority of West Australians, as a community we are well aware of the significant disadvantage renters face in finding and maintaining secure accommodation, overwhelmingly through no fault of their own.

As Alice Pennycott, Principal Lawyer, Tenancy, Circle Green said, 

“These stories from members of our community highlight the complete imbalance of power between tenants and investors, and they paint a clear picture of people suffering in silence, in properties with significant repair issues, health and safety concerns, and egregious breaches of their privacy, because the alternative is being made homeless without any recourse.”

“The absence of minimum standards combined with extremely insecure tenure is resulting in an overwhelming number of renters too scared to assert their right to a home that is in a reasonable state of repair. This has to change”.

“The stories are not just from a small number of transient renters on their way through to home ownership - these are Western Australian families with young children, retirees, people with disability; all of whom are likely to be renting for a significant period and in many cases, renting for life.”

“We knew maintenance and repair issues were a huge problem for renters, but didn’t know just how bad it was - these results show two thirds of renters are having problems with leaks, dampness or mould, and one in three are having issues with hot water in their current rental. If we extrapolate these findings to all WA renters it literally means hundreds of thousands of renters are living in substandard conditions – and they’re too afraid to ask to get it fixed for fear of eviction.”

“So long as our laws continue to allow evictions without any reason, Western Australian families are going to continue to put up with uncomfortable or unsafe conditions just to keep a roof over their heads.” 

In great news this month we were proud to welcome two new members to the Alliance: the Women's Legal Servcie WA (WLSWA) and the WA Association for Mental Health (WAAMH).  

Please consider supporting the campaign and joining us formally - you can help us secure these crucial reforms and a fairer WA  – here’s how!   

• Would you consider asking your members or allies to also join the campaign formally and becoming a member of the Make Renting Fair Alliance?  We’d love to have your logo on our website, and share media and advocacy opportunities with you.   For more information please contact chantal@shelterwa.org.au 

• Share our Renters Survey with your staff, clients  and members and help us reach 1,000 renters! It takes 10 minutes and  will help us provide the most compelling evidence for long overdue changes  to our tenancy laws. Take the Survey Here.

• To find out more about the campaign keep an eye on (or share) the stories and breaking news we’re rolling out on our Facebook page 

 The Make Renting Fair campaign has been gaining momentum in the last month as we continue to advocate for much-needed tenancy law reforms in WA.

This month we were proud to welcome four new members to the Alliance: the Financial Counsellors’ Association,  Justice Reform Initiative, Community Legal WA, and LinkWest. 

We presented to the WA Peaks Forum, and will be speaking to LinkWest’s 120 regional members in the coming weeks. If you would like an update from our campaign to your organisation or members please drop me a line - Chantal@shelterwa.org.au 

This month we’re focusing on the compelling stories from renters  and new data coming in from our Renters Survey on the impact of ‘without reason’ evictions and in particular the fear tenants live in for the entirety of their tenancy which leaves them too scared to assert their rights for thing like maintenance and even privacy.

We know maintenance issues with rental properties is a huge problem for renters, but didn’t know just how bad it was until our survey results stated coming in and showed 64% of renters are having problems with leaks, dampness or mould and 32% are having issues with hot water in their current rental. 

Preliminary results from our Make Renting Fair survey are showing 37% of respondents were concerned a request for repairs or maintenance in their current rental could get them evicted and 63% were concerned the request might make the landlord less likely to renew  their lease. 

The absence of minimum standards combined with extremely insecure tenure translates to an overwhelming number of West Aussie renters too scared to assert their rights to a well maintained home.  This has to change. 

You can help us secure these crucial reforms and a fairer WA  – here’s how!   

• Would you consider joining the campaign formally and becoming a member of the Make Renting Fair Alliance?  We’d love to have your logo on our website, and share media and advocacy opportunities with you.   For more information please contact chantal@shelterwa.org.au 

• Share our Renters Survey with your staff, clients  and members and help us reach 1,000 renters! It takes 10 minutes and  will help us provide the most compelling evidence for long overdue changes  to our tenancy laws. Take the Survey Here.

To find out more about the campaign keep an eye on (or share) the stories and breaking news we’re rolling out on our Facebook page .

The Make Renting Fair campaign, proudly being coordinated by Shelter WA, Circle Green, Anglicare WA, and WACOSS  is advocating for strong tenancy law reforms in WA. 

The initial results of the Make Renting Fair 2022 survey are in, and they are demonstrating just how bad the experience of renting is in WA.

Very concerningly, 95 per cent of survey participants said they simply could not afford for their rent to increase another 10% - as they're predicted to in the coming months. 

A large number of survey participants said that their requests for maintenance on things like mould, water leaks and broken fences simply got ignored or put off until the landlords suggest that the tenants move out.  71 per cent said they were concerned a request for repairs or maintenance would make the landlord less likely to renew their lease. 

There were also many experiences of ‘no grounds’ evictions which made for a stressful and expensive time for many renters. Shockingly, survey participants noted that they believe it was because they had questioned large rent increases. 

Over the coming weeks we'll be sharing not just the survey results, but the real stories of WA renters on our social media and website, and making sure their lived experience is front and centre of this campaign. 

We’d love your support on this crucial, collaborative campaign – here’s how!   

• Would you consider joining the campaign formally and becoming a member of the Make Renting Fair Alliance?  We’d love to have your logo on our website, and share media and advocacy opportunities with you.   For more information please contact chantal@shelterwa.org.au 

• Share our Renters Survey with your staff, clients  and members and help us reach 1,000 renters! It takes 10 minutes and  will help us provide the most compelling evidence for long overdue changes  to our tenancy laws. Take the Survey Here.

• To find out more about the campaign keep an eye on (or share) the stories and breaking news we’re rolling out  on our Facebook page .