As mentioned in our July eBulletin, Shelter NSW is concerned that barely a month after tenancy legislation reform came into effect, NSW Government decided to quietly water down evidence requirements for landlords seeking to evict tenants for ‘significant renovations or repairs’.   

And we are not alone. Last week, a disallowance motion was moved in NSW Parliament by Tim James MP, the Member for Willoughby, supported by the Coalition, the NSW Greens, and some independents including Alex Greenwich MP. Shelter NSW Senior Policy Officer, Thomas Chailloux, was quoted reiterating Shelter NSW position; that ‘these changes were made behind closed doors and without any consultation with housing and homelessness peak bodies, legal assistance services or tenancy legislation specialists’ and that there ‘has simply not been enough time for the NSW Government to monitor and evaluate the new tenancy legislation provisions. Why then undermine these important, long-awaited and much needed reforms?’ 

We also spoke with Honi Soit, the weekly newspaper of the University of Sydney, who published a piece on the roll back, ‘Tenants’ advocacy group in opposition to quiet rollbacks of NSW rental protections’, highlighting the reasons behind our concerns and why inadequate evidence requirements might embolden landlords to go for ‘renovictions’ over doing the right thing.  

Our dear friends at the Tenants Union of NSW have released a call to action, bringing together a petition, a joint statement from legal and community services organisations, and assistance to support people writing to the Minister and their local MP. 

Take action now to protect tenants against ‘renovictions’

Shelter NSW calls on the NSW Government to do the right thing by reinstating the evidence requirements for landlords to evict people from their home for significant repairs or renovations, monitor complaints and investigate misuse of renovation grounds, and commit to community consultation ahead of any future changes to tenancy legislation.