The Experience of Renting in Australia
Almost seven in ten people who rent privately are scared to ask for repairs in case they face a rent increase or eviction, according to research by the ACOSS/UNSW Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership, National Shelter and the National Association of Renter Organisations (NARO).
This report aims to inform the ongoing discussion of rental housing policy with new evidence about the experience of renting in the Australian private rental sector.
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%.
The report, titled Rights at risk: Rising rents and repercussions, found rents have surged by a staggering 47% in the past five years and called for nationwide rental increase limits.
The survey found 50% of renters live in homes that need repairs and 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. A staggering 68% of renters fear that 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 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.