Sheriffs kept busy with rental evictions and mortgage repossessions

Eviction rates are rising with new State government figures showing an average of 55 tenants have been court-ordered out of their rental properties every week since the start of the year.

Eviction rates are rising with new State government figures showing an average of 55 tenants have been court-ordered out of their rental properties every week since the start of the year.

The NSW Sheriff Office figures – obtained by The Sunday Telegraph – show last year there were an average of 50 tenants were being evicted each week.

And the housing crisis is not just impacting tenants, with an average of four mortgage repossessions having been actioned in NSW every week between January 1 and April 20 this year.

NSW Sheriff Office evictions only occur in extreme circumstances such as when a tenant or resident does not leave the premises by the date ordered by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)

The eviction is activated by a person requesting a warrant for possession of their property if the tenant or resident does not leave the premises.

Sad roommates facing eviction. Picture: iStock

A warrant for possession authorises a Sheriff’s Officer to enter the premises and evict the tenant or resident.

According to the Tenants’ Union of NSW, the vast majority of evictions were “informal”, with tenants vacating the property either before formal action commences or early in the process.

Dozens of Sydneysiders lined up outside an open-for-inspection rental apartment in Surry Hills last month. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Nicholas Eagar

As for what matters end up in court, about 80 per cent of cases were for non-payment of rent, it said.

Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns have pledged to address the rental crisis.

Mr Albanese on Friday detailed a plan to strengthen renters’ rights at national cabinet, with housing ministers to develop a proposal and outline ways to strengthen rental rates across the country.

In NSW, applications will open on Monday for candidates to apply for the role of NSW Rental Commissioner – a position Labor pledged as part of its election package to assist renters.

NSW Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong.

NSW Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said the commissioner would ensure the voicers of renters were heard across government “and at the highest of levels”.

He said the commissioner would help implement a portable bonds scheme that would allow people to move without the burden of big upfront bond payments while also developing a framework that ended no grounds evictions.

The commissioner will also work with the government to end secret rent bidding, Mr Chanthivong said.

“The message at the last election was clear – renters in NSW don’t feel their voice was being heard by the last government,” he said.

“The commissioner will make sure the voices of renters are heard across government and at the highest levels.

“The Rental Commissioner will look at both sides of the ledger, finding ways to make the system fairer for renters and identifying the barriers and blockages that hold up housing supply and push up prices.”

Mr Chanthivong said the government was aware there were “a few bad actors” in the system that made “life harder for everyone”, with Fair Trading already conducting compliance operations to catch rule-breakers.