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The state government has released the results of its survey on changes it has proposed to the Residential Tenancies Act.
The Have Your Say survey received 16,032 responses and 405 written submissions.
Renters made up the highest proportion of respondents at 57 per cent, while the rest were either real estate agents or landlords. Fitting into these categories, 5 per cent of respondents both owned a rental property and were renters in a different property.
The survey canvassed a number of areas, but ultimately centred on some of the biggest issues up for debate in the government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act. Namely, the survey sought opinions on the topics of ending no grounds evictions, making it easier for renters to have pets, and establishing a portable bonds scheme.
Introducing a portable bonds scheme was the area that received the most support, with 92 per cent of renters, 73 per cent of owners, and 50 per cent of real estate agents advocating for the system to be introduced.
The collection of tenant data was another area that found some common ground, with all cohorts generally supporting creating more specific laws about when and how to use and share renters’ personal information.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, opinions on ending no grounds evictions and allowing pets in properties proved to be much more contentious.
When asked if laws should be changed to require a landlord to give a good reason to reject a pet or go to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal to refuse an animal, 93 per cent of renters supported the idea, as did 58 per cent of renter-owners. However, 72 per cent of landlords and 76 per cent of real estate agents said they did not agree with this proposed policy.
Based on all responses, the top three reasons that respondents felt it would be reasonable to refuse a pet were:
1. The pet is a restricted animal, or an animal declared dangerous or menacing.
2. The renter keeping the pet on the property would be breaking other laws.
3. The property is not suitable for the pet.
Opinions on ending no grounds evictions were similarly split, with 96 per cent of renters supporting the owner needing a reason to end a periodic lease; 56 per cent of renter-owners also supported this policy. But the proposal only received support from 28 per cent of landlords and 12 per cent of real estate agents.
Introducing no grounds evictions for fixed term leases garnered similar responses with 92 per cent of renters, 47 per cent of renter-owners, 16 per cent of landlords, and 8 per cent of real estate agents supporting the move.
Given the hot button nature of the issue, the NSW Rental Commissioner has also held some in-person feedback sessions related to no grounds evictions. Reports from the roundtables indicated that many owners were in support of reasonable grounds for ending a lease, provided the law made provisions for landlords to be able to end private tenancies to enable the property to be used by them or members of their family, or when the property will not be relisted on the market for an extended period.
NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones commented that the substantial response to the survey indicated how important rental issues had become to NSW residents.
“A third of people rent in NSW, so hearing from renters and owners is critical to shaping change,” she said.
Jones said the feedback would inform the government’s position as it moves forward with reforming the state’s rental laws.
“This feedback will help us improve the rental market providing certainty and security to both renters and owners. We are progressing the reforms with a focus on getting the detail right and we will continue to work with our stakeholders to achieve this,” she added.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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