Minns government accused of rental reform backflip

The Minns government has been accused of quietly walking back one of its rental reforms only four weeks after the landmark changes came into effect — but the minister has defended the “minor change”. Have your say in our POLL

More than 20 organisations from the legal, social and union sector have accused the Minns government of quietly walking back a key plank of its rental reforms only four weeks after the “landmark” changes came into effect.

Community centres, legal services and charities, representing hundreds of thousands of people across the state, have called on the government to bring back evidence requirements for landlords who want to evict their tenants to do repairs and renovations.

It comes after the government introduced the safeguard as part of its sweeping rental reforms on May 19, but quietly removed it only one month later on June 20 without consultation.

NSW Tenant's Union chief executive officer Leo Patterson Ross. Picture: Richard Dobson

NSW Tenants Union chief executive officer Leo Patterson Ross, speaking on behalf of the group, warned that the decision to abandon hard-fought reforms could lead to further rights being taken away.

“While strong penalties exist on paper, the government folded so quickly on this evidence requirement that it raises concern about their willingness to stand by their own much-needed legislation,” Mr Patterson Ross said.

“This change means landlords will now only have to provide a written statement, with no supporting evidence, to evict a tenant. This just isn’t enough to guarantee that non-genuine evictions will be prevented.

“The government has walked back on something they found already didn’t work.”

The reform made it harder for landlords to evict tenants to do repairs and renovations. Picture: Adam Yip

This year the government introduced landmark rental reforms including banning rent bidding, no-grounds evictions and a Rental Taskforce to clean up the industry.

As part of these reforms, landlords were required to provide their choice of one of five pieces of evidence, such as a quote from a builder, alongside a written statement when seeking to evict a tenant for repairs and renovations.

The group of 29 organisations, including Vinnies NSW, the Australian Services Union and Redfern Legal Centre, have now signed a joint letter calling on the government to honour the reform and commit to consultation on future changes – a plea backed by the Opposition’s spokesman for fair trading, Tim James.

“Reforms to rental laws only came into effect in May, yet just weeks later the Minns Labor government has been caught quietly winding back elements with no notice nor consultation,” Mr James said.

Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“Both tenants and owners deserve clear, stable rules they can rely on.”

However, NSW Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong would not commit to the protection of other reforms, describing the latest decision as a “minor change”.

“As we made very clear at the beginning of this reform process, we will consider a range of views and feedback to the legislative changes we are making,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“The adjustment to evidentiary requirements is a minor change, and simply proves that we will continue to adapt to industry and renters’ concerns as and when we need to.”

Originally published as Minns government accused of rental reform backflip