NSW rental crisis: Repair complaints fall as rents soar amid tightening market

Tenant complaints against landlords over repairs and maintenance have fallen in NSW as rents soar amid the tightest market in Sydney in more than a decade.

Belinda Beardsell, with her daughters Scarlette and Siernna, lodged a complaint about mould at their rental property. Picture: Jane Dempster/The Australian

Tenant complaints against landlords over repairs and maintenance have fallen in NSW as rents soar and renters fear eviction amid the tightest market in Sydney in more than a decade.

NSW renters lodged 44 complaints against landlords and property managers in March this year, compared with 94 in March 2022, according to figures from Fair Trading NSW.

Tenants’ Union of NSW chief executive officer Leo Patterson Ross said the threat of eviction in a fiercely competitive market discouraged tenants from complaining and current regulations offered insufficient protection.

“Many renters won’t seek to make complaints, take their cases to the tribunal, request maintenance or repairs out of concern a landlord will evict them under ‘no-grounds’ evictions legislation or that their future applications will be put in jeopardy,” he said. “We are also hearing of landlords seeking to evict renters in order to re-list the property at a higher cost to take advantage of the current competition in the rental market.”

Belinda and Harley Beardsell took their landlord to NCAT. Picture: Supplied

They were forced to throw away thousands of dollars of furniture, upholstery, toys and bedding due to mould. Picture: Supplied

Fair Trading NSW received 905 complaints over repairs and maintenance, with the category making up about 45 per cent of complaints made against landlords and property managers.

NSW Greens Member for Newtown Jenny Leong said the regulatory regime did not afford enough protection or address systemic issues facing renters.

“We know NSW renters frequently report being too fearful to ask for repairs because of the ongoing threat of eviction or rent increases,” she said.

Residential vacancies in Sydney are at 1.3 per cent – the lowest level in about 12 years, according to data released by the Real Estate Institute of NSW last week.

REINSW chief executive officer Tim McKibbin said a lack of supply was driving rental prices due to a booming population and investors leaving the market for other opportunities such as listing their property in the holidays or the short-term rental market.

Bathroom tiles remained damaged. Picture: Supplied

Clothes were destroyed. Picture: Supplied

NSW Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said the government was going to end no-grounds eviction, implement a portable bonds scheme and ban secret rent bidding as well as increasing housing supply in a bid to lower prices in the state.

“The message during the election couldn’t have been clearer, we need a system with the right balance between owners and renters,” he said.

Belinda Beardsell, 30, said she was advised to go to the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal in her failed bid to claim $7,780 compensation for possessions damaged by mould at a property she rented in Blacktown. Ms Beardsell said she was forced to throw out toys, clothing, furniture and bedding to avoid bringing mould to their new home and risking the health of her daughters Scarlette, 5, and Sienna, aged eight months.