Aussie renters fight back against building overlord

A group of Aussie renters have banded together to fight back against a rent increase from a whole-building landlord.

A group of Aussie renters have banded together to fight back against a landlord they claim owns their entire building, in a co-ordinated effort to reject multiple rent increases.

The residents of the 40 to 50-unit apartment block, which went unnamed, joined forces earlier this month to object to a series of weighty rent increases that have plagued the nation in recent months.

One resident of the complex took to Reddit to share a letter that was circulating in the building, documenting a series of rent increases they said had impacted nearly every unit since early March.

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The letter claimed the rent increases were “not reasonable or affordable”. Picture: Reddit

It called for tenants to band together and reject it. Picture: Reddit

“On 10/03/23, a number of tenants from [omitted] Rd were sent emails announcing a substantial rent increase,” the letter read.

“To our knowledge, it’s an average of 30%. We suspect all tenants in the building have been given a similar notice.

“This is not reasonable or affordable.”

The resident said they believed whole apartment block was “owned by the same entity” because all fire and safety documentation contained the same details as the property owner identified on their lease.

“In the interest of power in numbers, we suggest sending an email that pushes back and sets out your rights clearly,” the letter continued.

“Fair Trading advises us this must be done within 30 days of the rent increase email being sent.”

The resident said they believed the whole building (not pictured) was owned by one entity. Picture: Damian Shaw

The note finished with a brief outline of NSW rental law.

“For a periodic agreement rent can only be increased once in a 12 month period after the minimum 60 day written notice is given to the tenant,” it said.

“For agreements with a fixed term of 2 years or more, the rent can only be increased once in a 12-month period. A landlord must also give the tenant at least 60 days written notice.

“For agreements with a fixed term of less than 2 years, the landlord or agent can only increase the rent during the fixed-term if the agreement sets out the increased amount or how the increase will be calculated. The term in the agreement must spell out the amount of the increase or the exact method of calculating the increase (e.g. a dollar amount or %). It cannot be unclear, for example statements ‘in line with the market’ or ‘by the rate of inflation’.”

The user who posted the letter said their own rent was set to increase by 20 per cent, as they called for greater regulations on companies that own rental properties.

“There should be strict regulations on for-profit companies operating rental properties and greater renter rights,” they wrote.

”The situation feels like manipulation of a captive market. Our options are 1. accept the rent increase, 2. try and negotiate a lower increase (which has not seen success from what I have heard) or 3. enter the meat grinder that is the rental market at the moment.”

Tenants held a protest against rent increases on Friday as rents reach an all-time high. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Social media users wished the residents luck in their fight.

“We need more people standing together to fight for renter’s rights,” one Reddit user wrote.

Some recommended even more drastic action, saying the situation seemed like the “perfect opportunity for a rental strike”.

“Get all the apartments to work together and not pay rent until this bulls**t is rescinded,” one such user said.

Others, however, noted that the power imbalance tilted in the favour of the landlord.

“Their next move will be the issuing of a no grounds termination notice to anyone pushing back, giving affected residents 30-90 days to leave so they can then start afresh with a doubling of the rent,” said one commenter.

“Why? Because they are c***s and they can.”

Unfortunately, this user may be correct. Under current NSW legislation, landlords are entitled to evict tenants without grounds so long as they give between 30 and 90 days’ notice.

That fact will soon change, as Labor pledged to outlaw no-grounds evictions should it be victorious in the state election.

Rents in Sydney are rising at the fastest pace on record, soaring 25.6 per cent in the year to March 20, according to SQM Research.

In January, the median rent in the city hit an all-time high — $630 per week for a house and $530 for a unit.

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