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Become a member and strengthen the Union's voice on housing issues.

Our Noticeboard highlights current tenancy and renting issues as well as upcoming events the TU is involved in and those that are related to tenancy matters/issues or may be of interest to people who rent their homes. Check out the list below and click the links (*)to see details.

If you have an event that you would like us to promote, send us an e-mail

If you would like notification when we add new items of interest to the noticeboard you can subscribe to our e-mail list, click here for details

This page last updated 21 August 2008

News

v New Issue of Tenant News out now *

v New page - "In the News" tenancy related media coverage *

v Commonwealth State Housing Agreement national data report *

v TAS line extended! Now open every Tues 4.30 - 8pm *

v Issues for tenants - the new Government's commitments *

v Share-housing guide now available*

v Report from Australian visit by UN Special Rapporteur on

Adequate Housing*

v Attaining Affordable Housing - the ACT Action Plan *

v Australian housing – a fair share? *

v So Who's Raising the Rent? *

v TU e-mail service *

v Membership Renewal *

v Housing as a Human Right *

Tenancy Law Issues

v Review of the Residential Tenancies Act *

v Rent Bidding and Auctions *

v Direct Debits for paying rent - WARNING*

v Housing Assistance Act (Public Housing) Changes *

v Residential Tenancies Act Changes *

v Not a tenant? What about Occupancy Rights? *

Events

v TENANCY WEEK 2007, a report *

v HOME - an exhibition *

v Tenancy Workshops and presentations *

v Free Community Meals *

v SuperGrands: helping people help themselves *

v Tenants Advice Service information stalls *

THE details:z

News

v Commonwealth State Housing Agreement
national data report

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has announced the most recent publication in their series on housing assistance. This is a set of six publications that report on housing assistance provided in 2006-07 under the 2003 CSHA. The six reports are:

Community housing 2006-07: Commonwealth State Housing Agreement national data report (this report)
Public rental housing 2006-07: Commonwealth State Housing Agreement national data report (AIHW 2008a)
State owned and managed Indigenous housing 2006-07: Commonwealth State Housing Agreement national data report (AIHW 2008b)
Crisis Accommodation Program 2006-07: Commonwealth State Housing Agreement national data report (AIHW 2008c)
Home Purchase Assistance 2006-07: Commonwealth State Housing Agreement national data report (AIHW 2008d)
Private Rent Assistance 2006-07: Commonwealth State Housing Agreement national data report (AIHW 2008e).

These publications are part of the Housing Assistance Data Development Series. This series was initially developed under the 1999 National Housing Data Agreement (NHDA) and the 1999 Agreement on National Indigenous Housing Information to report on the data collections and the associated standards, definitions and classifications under these agreements.

Click on the link http://www.aihw.gov.au/index.cfm to download the full reports.

v Federal housing developments

- ALP Housing Policies

Well, the election has come and gone and we have a new Government, and Jenny Macklin the Minster for the new Department that finally acknowledges housing at a national level - Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Tanya Plibersek is the junior Minister for Housing.

If you are interested to see what the ALP has committed to in terms of housing issues click here. or check out the National Shelter website for more details and comparisons. National Shelter has produced a document that compares the policy proposals stated in National Shelter's Policy Platform (April 2007) with the policy positions of the 4 major political parties. Click here.

A question that you may want to ask is whether any policies address needs for people in the private rental market. The need for security of tenure, the need for fair rent increases. The recognition of private rental as a viable, socially acceptable long term tenure. These are issues that must be addressed at a Territory and State level via residential tenancy legislation, however leadership at a national level is always welcomed.

Now we wait and see. Will we once more see a fully funded national housing peak, recognising the fundamental nature of housing and housing policy at a national level? (National Shelter was de-funded in

v Report by UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Miloon Kothari, concluded his visit to Australia on 15 August 2006. The Special Rapporteur presented his final report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2007. Click here to download the report.

v Attaining Affordable Housing

Housing affordability has been in the news for some time now as the pinch is felt not just by tenants but by people wanting to purchase their homes. The TU has been highlighting affordability issues for tenants in recent publications as well as local and national media. It has been clear to us (and others in the tenancy and community sectors) that government intervention has been necessary to address the failure of the private market that our governments have been relying on to “re-equilibrate”.

We have all been calling on government intervention at a local lev Welcome to more Affordable Housing el since the first ACT Affordability Taskforce in 2002. Since that Taskforce handed down their Report, and there was a subsequent report on action against the report in 2005, the problems have increased with higher rents, lower vacancy rates and overall higher house prices. The situation has now reached the point that the media around the country are reporting on affordability crisis. As a response our Chief Minster formed another high level group to look at how to address the problems.

The following is a media release:
On 12 April Chief Minister Jon Stanhope released a comprehensive action plan to make housing more affordable in the ACT. The plan includes measures aimed at home ownership, private rental, public housing, community housing and supported accommodation.

“Access to safe, secure and affordable accommodation is one of the most basic of human needs, and the dream of owning a home is one shared by most Canberrans,” Mr Stanhope said. “Changes in the housing market over the past five years, driven by sharp increases in demand, have made this dream more elusive for many Canberrans, and this has placed greater pressure on the private rental market and on public and community housing services. I announce a wide-ranging plan to help Canberrans at all points on the accommodation spectrum, from home-buyers and private renters to those in public and community housing.”

Mr Stanhope said the Affordable Housing Steering Group established last year had found that while the ACT performed well on housing affordability surveys, due to our higher-than-average incomes, the data masked the fact that some Canberrans were in housing stress. House prices had doubled in six years and the ACT currently had the lowest vacancy rates and the highest median rents in Australia.

The Government was making it one of its highest priorities to help those struggling to get their foot in the door of home ownership, or having problems securing appropriate rental accommodation.

Key initiatives in the plan include:

new house and land packages priced between $200,000 and $300,000;
regular englobo land sales;
over-the-counter sales of affordable housing blocks;
a major expansion of community housing that will deliver an additional 480 affordable dwellings over five years;
an initiative to increase the supply of private rental dwellings by 200- 400 homes in the first instance;
land rental and shared equity schemes, including for public and community housing tenants;
targeted stamp duty concessions.

The Action Plan was developed in consultation with stakeholders. A high-level team headed by the outgoing Executive Director of the Master Builders’ Association, Mr David Dawes, will oversee its implementation. Copies of the plan are available by clicking here.

This announcement and the Action Plan have (generally and cautiously) been positively received across the ACT community. From a TUACT perspective, a commitment to increasing the supply of rental stock is a good thing, and so is the high priority this issue being given. It is also encouraging that there is recognition that the affordability surveys are much distorted in the ACT by the fact that they are based on average income, which is skewed by the high wages in the public service (and other professional bodies). This calculation does not show the wage level of most Canberrans. So while “the average” ACT household can afford their home, there are many many people who are in housing stress.

Increasing the supply of community housing is also a mechanism for increasing the supply of rental housing, although the level of affordability may vary. The theory is that even if the resultant housing is not affordable to all, people will move to the new housing and open up cheaper rental housing for those who need it. It is also believed that greater supply with stabilise rents as vacancy rates rise. Our issue is with regulation of community housing and the need to ensure that community housing tenants have the same rights as other tenants in public stock especially in relation to appeals and dispute resolution. This is not yet the case in the ACT.

Of course it is not surprising that the focus is on the “Australian Dream” of attaining home purchase. The assistance to those in and seeking private rental is limited to the reliance on increasing stock, as well as a commitment to add an additional worker to the Tenants’ Advice Service to help better meet demand. This is very welcome but it is sadly recognition that little will be done to help people renting in the immediate and short term.

The initiatives are constructive and in some cases innovative and to be applauded. However it is disappointing to not see an expansion of public housing stock or changes in legislation that will ensure affordability for people already renting (through limiting the extent of rent increases and giving security of tenure to all tenants). We all wait to see the detail of how they are to be implemented and are eager to participate in future consultations and work to try to ensure tenants are not forgotten.

v Australian housing – a fair share?

National Shelter, the national organisation advocating for low-income housing consumers launched its platform for housing policy as a guide for policy development both nationally and at a more local level.

The platform calls for a mix of actions with the Commonwealth and state and territory governments working together.

The platform includes calls for

a National Housing Strategy and Federal Minister for Housing, Urban and Regional Development
to increase social housing (public and private rental)
develop national standards for tenants' rights
a review of the impact of the taxation system on housing affordability
the development of financing and investment strategies to attract institutional investor into affordable rental housing
implementation of a national Indigenous housing strategy

The full platform can be downloaded from the National Shelter website, click here

v So Who's Raising the Rent?

Been a bit bemused by the media frenzy over the rent crisis? Wondering where your landlord or agents are getting the "facts" they are using as a basis for alarming and excessive rent increases?

ABC's Media Watch program looked at some alarming examples of stories getting it wrong. And there may be a question or two about in whose interest are these stories of high rents?

Interesting reading for all tenants. Note that the stories are from NSW, but the coverage and questions echo for the ACT, and elsewhere.

Click here to go to Media Watch, or here to download a copy of the transcript.

v TU e-mail service

The TU will be operates an e-mail list for people wishing to receive notification of new publications including our newsletters. The list is also used to advise subscribers of important tenancy and housing issues and news.

To join the list send us a message, click here.

v Review of the RTA

In March the TU and Welfare Rights and Legal Centre produced a report on the RTA. The RTA Report Card highlighted issues and problems that our services had identified through their contact with tenants through the provision of assistance to ACT tenants.

Shortly after being provided with the report the ACT Attorney-General, Simon Corbell announced a review of the Act. He called for submissions from stakeholders by the end of April and made a commitment to then hold a roundtable to discuss issues raised and determine the possibility for change.

For a copy of our report click here.

v Rent bidding and auctions

Recent figures from the Real Estate Institute of Australia (confirmed by Tenants' Union of Victoria in their report detailed below) show that the trend of higher rents and ever decreasing vacancy rates continues. Once again Canberra has the very dubious "honour" of having the highest rents for several types of housing.

A disturbing flow on effect of this situation is the development of some dodgy practices, the first one to be reported was rent bidding where real estate agents are encouraging tenants to bid an amount higher than the advertised rent in order to secure a tenancy over other applicants. This practice is questionable in the least and likely to constitute a false and misleading action (and therefore a breach of the Agents Act) since the agents are seeking rents above those advertised. It is unfair and not regulated in any way. An applicant has no idea whether there are, in reality, any other bids and there is always the likelihood that they can only afford the advertised rent and would not have made queries or applied for anything at a higher rate. In addition, where a person feels pressured to offer a higher amount they can only just afford to sustain, they must also factor in that they are likely to face a rent increase once they have been in the tenancy for over 12 months. Rents are set and advertised to reflect their value, if the property is really worth more it should be advertised at that rate - this means that tenants are competing on an even playing field. Rent bidding prays on people's fear of missing out on a home and relies on them making spontaneous and often unwise decisions. If you come across an agent requiring higher bids make a complaint to the Office of Fair Trading.

The other practice was announced by a real estate agent following media coverage of rent bidding. The agent announced that he will be introducing rent auctions to the ACT. He outlined the model as involving tenants applying for a property and once accepted, being able to participate in an auction. The practice is being promoted as formalising something that already happens (ie bidding) and it is claimed that it will be regulated by existing laws regulating auctions. The problem with these claims is firstly that as already noted bidding is unfair and unacceptable and not something that should be given credence by being formalised. And very importantly, there is no regulation of such a practice since the existing regulations only cover sale by auction and not rent.

Reactions to this announcement have almost uniformly been negative, even those from other agents. The Housing Minister, Mr Hargreaves condemned the practice in no uncertain terms and the TU wholly supports his declaration that it be "outlawed" or prohibited. As the Minister rightly pointed out tenancy is not a discretionary commodity in the same way as other articles of trade, and it should be regulated to reflect that. This is why specific tenancy legislation exists and we do not rely on other general contract or trading laws. If you have concerns about this practice contact the Minister and voice those concerns, or go to the Attorney General and urge protection of tenants.

The TU will be monitoring this matter and be including updates on the noticeboard.

v Membership Renewal

We encourage all members to renew your membership. Your continued support of the TU will give tenants a strong voice and help us in promoting the rights and interests of all tenants in the ACT.

Likewise - if you are not yet a member but would like to join the TU call the Tenants' Union on 02 6247 1026, or drop into Havelock House, Turner (entry via Gould Street) for an application form. Alternatively, you can download an application form by clicking here.

v Housing as a Human Right

Earlier this year the ACT Human Rights and Discrimination Commissioner , Dr Helen Watchirs launched "Housing as a Human Right" , a project of ACT Shelter and ACTCOSS.

The Housing is a Human Right Campaign is the result of a collaborative effort by a broad coalition of community groups who seek to raise the profile of adequate housing as a fundamental human right. The campaign has produced a variety of materials (posters, stickers and a series of postcards) using the stories of real Canberrans to illustrate what housing as a human rights means in real terms to real people. Through these people the concepts of human rights become concrete and obvious. It is hoped they will serve as a trigger for more people to become involved in issues related to human rights and housing.

Kerrie Tucker, Executive Officer of ACT Shelter at the time said , "ACT Shelter has been delighted to work with ACTCOSS, the Youth Coalition of the ACT, Unions ACT, the Welfare Rights and Legal Centre and the Tenants' Union in this important community campaign."

"Adequate and affordable housing is the foundation on which people build their lives. The right to adequate housing is included in the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights. While the ACT and Australian Governments have committed to protecting these rights, there 100 000 people who are homeless and countless more living in housing that is inadequate and unaffordable. The failure to protect human rights impacts all of us." Ms Tucker said.

Ara Cresswell, Director of ACTCOSS said "All human rights are connected and need equal protection. A person's capacity to exercise their right to personal safety, health, education or family life is severely limited if they do not have adequate housing".

For more information about this campaign, or copies of the materials contact the TU or ACT Shelter

Tenancy and Renting Issues

v Housing Assistance Act (Public Housing) Amendments

On 20 April, Housing ACT (HACT) announced reforms to the Public Rental Housing Assistance Program (PRHAP). These reforms are being promoted as building on earlier changes made in June 2006 to “sharpen the Program’s focus on those in the ACT community in most need of housing assistance”.

The 2006 reforms consisted of changes to the qualifying criteria and priority needs system for new housing applicants, effectively restricting access for those trying to enter public housing. The latest reforms affect existing tenants, and spell the end to security of tenure in public housing in the ACT.

The ideology underpinning the reforms is that public housing should not be seen as a long term housing choice, but should be provided only in extreme circumstances of special and significant need for housing assistance, and only to the extent and for the duration of that need.

The latest reforms affect two categories of tenants: those whose household income exceeds $80,000 per annum; and those in premises with two or more extra bedrooms.

Where the tenants’ annual income exceeds $80,000 for a period of two consecutive years, the tenant will be offered the choice to either purchase their home from HACT, or “to consider purchasing or renting alternative housing in the private market”. The current “Sale to Tenant” scheme will be expanded and the Government will introduce a “Shared Equity” program to aid tenants’ home purchase.

To facilitate this part of the reforms, legislation is to be introduced to give HACT the authority to request income details from all tenants not claiming a rent rebate (also known as ‘market renters’). Disclosure of income details will become an ongoing requirement for market renters.

The second part of the reforms relates to the size of the tenant’s home. HACT has “housing size guidelines” to ensure that all rented properties are utilised to their maximum potential. Where HACT determine that a tenant has two or more bedrooms above the housing size guidelines, “consideration will be given to relocating them to housing more consistent with their current needs”.

HACT tenants received notice of the reforms via letter on the same day as the announcement to stakeholders including the TU. The TU is aware that many HACT tenants are distressed and worried about this announcement, and what it may mean for them.

It is important to remind tenants not to panic! The changes are yet to be finalised: it is expected that policy will take 6 months to develop, and the reforms relating to income criteria will be phased in over 2 years. HACT have promised to undertake consultation in refining the details of the changes, and the TU will certainly take part in this process, updating tenants via our website and newsletter in due course.

Yet it must be said that the TU is deeply disappointed by this decision. The TU has always supported security of tenure as a crucial element of the right to housing, and recognised the role of market renters in supporting the public housing system and contributing to strong and stable communities. At their worst, these reforms will mean the removal of people from what has been their home for many years, at great emotional and social cost.

v RTA Amendments

Over the past 12 months there have been numerous changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. Some of these changes have been very significant, some administrative. The TU has put together a table that outlines these changes, click here to view a copy. There are articles with more detail in our newsletters, and we will be producing new Tenancy Tips sheets with further detail in the near future. We will be updating this page (and our website) when they are produced. For copies of the Act and the amendments go to the ACT legislation register, click here.

v Occupancy Rights?

There has been much made recently of problems in the private and public rental markets in the ACT and nationally. Something that has been overlooked is the situation for another significant group of people in a variety of forms of accommodation that may look like but are not tenancies, this includes people living in student accommodation, caravan and relocatable home parks, boarding houses, supported accommodation and lodging situations. Until very recently there has been little to no legal protection of these people, since they were excluded from Residential Tenancies Act.

In March 2005 changes to the RTA came into effect recognising this new category of renters, now called occupants. For the first time these people could have disputes resolved through the Residential Tenancies Tribunal, and a series of principles applied to the terms of the agreements about their homes. These changes made the ACT unique in Australian in relation to the extent of coverage and protection for people, especially those in student accommodation.

“We knew that making these changes was only the first step” says Deborah Pippen, Executive Officer Tenants’ Union ACT, “It is vital that people are now made aware of the protections that exist.”

“The Department of Justice and Community Safety agreed and funded a small project that involved going out and talking with occupants to determine what they knew of the changes and how they affected them. After many meetings our project worker, Anne Macduff has produced a series of information leaflets covering issues such as general rights, occupancy agreements, privacy, repairs and maintenance, resolving disputes and evictions. Now all we have to do is make sure the information reaches those that need it”

The leaflets form information kits that will be distributed free of charge on calling the TU office – 6247 1026, or e-mail The information is also available to read and download here.

Events

v TENANCY WEEK 2007 - A Report

Monday 1 October was International Tenants Day, and the theme was the future of rental housing. As usual TUACT used this day as a trigger for the Tenancy Week.

This year the coordinating committee (TU, ACT Shelter, Housing ACT and the ACT Joint Champions Group) organised a great week that began with a launch at the Canberra Museum And Gallery. The launch was well attended and the refreshments got a big thumbs up!

The ACT Minister for Housing, John Hargreaves did the official launch and was followed up by three speakers, providing insight on experiences as tenants in private share housing (Kathleen McCoy), public housing (John Jacob) and community housing (Viren Jackson). The tales told were very well received.

The event finished with the launch of a new YWCA booklet on neighbourhood disputes, "Calm Living" by Jamie Crosby. And, finally our MC Amy Kilpatrick encouraged all to go visit the "HOME" art exhibition, see below.

Unfortunately this year the annual Domestic Violence and Tenancy workshop for community workers did not occur, it will be run next year, and of course, the TU can offer other workshops for organisations throughout the year, see below.

Other Tenancy Week events included our annual information stalls at Tuggeranong, Belconnen and Woden. As always these stalls gave the general community an opportunity to stop and chat and ask questions about the TU and other services and organisations. Our tenancy kits were big movers and demand is still strong for tenancy information.

All at the TU would like to thank everyone involved in Tenancy Week, both in organising and during specific events. Without you all we would truly be struggling. Hope to see you next year.

v HOME - An Exhibition

An exciting part of Tenancy Week 2007 was an art exhibition involving public and community housing tenants. "Home" asked tenants to produce a work that reflected thoughts of home, echoing the Tenancy Week slogan of "Their House, My Home".

It was our first exhibition and there were some teething problems, but that acknowledged, there were great contributions, we were lucky to have some great judges giving their time, as well as other volunteers helping with organising and logistics.

If you would like to see our scrap book of the event click here.

v Tenancy Workshops and Presentations

DO you work with/assist people who are tenants?

DO you know of people who are renting, or planning to rent?

Do you want to know more about tenancy issues or problems and how to resolve/avoid them?

The TU ACT can tailor a presentation on tenancy issues to any organisation, group. Presentations can run for as long as you need - over a lunch hour or to fit in with staff meeting times.

We can also provide more detailed workshops on tenancy law. These workshops are useful for people who may assist tenants with basic tenancy issues. We can provide a basic overview of tenancy law, plus resources in order to be able to assist people with basic tenacny problems or issues.

Call us for more information on 6247 1027 or send us a message, click here.

v Free Community Meals!

Tuggeranong Community Lunches

Every Thursday between 12.30 and 1.30pm

at the Tuggeranong Baptist Church, Jenke Circuit, Kambah

Hosted by Communities @ Work in partnership with Brindabella

Baptist Church, Tuggeranong Baptist Church & St Stephen's Anglican Church

For more information please phone 6288 4744

ALL WELCOME!

Weston Creek Community Breakfasts

Every Tuesday mornings between 7.30 and 8.30am

at the Weston Creek Community Centre.

Hosted by Communities @ Work in partnership with Canberra Community Care,

St Jude’s & Saint John Vianney’s Catholic Church Weston, Oasis Community Church Lyons, St Peters Anglican Church Weston & Weston Creek Community Centre.

For more information please phone 6288 4744

ALL WELCOME!

v SuperGrands: helping people help themselves

In today’s disposable fast paced world many families are still developing the basic skills that are essential for running a home.
Young parents and families need assistance to improve basic skills such as:
How do I make a budget work?
Why is my home always in chaos?
What is something easy and healthy that the kids will actually eat?

SuperGrands are a team of dedicated volunteers who offer one-on-one home coaching and group mentorship to help families develop skills that provide practical value to the home. SuperGrands share the knowledge of a lifetime to coach families in skills such as budgeting, menu planning, establishing routines and basic home maintenance and gardening. Strengthening families’ confidence and skills helps to build a stronger community and this is what SuperGrands is all about.

The SuperGrands Program is funded under the Australian Government’s Stronger Families & Communities Strategy.

If you are interested in the SuperGrands program or would like to volunteer,
please call Maria, SuperGrands Coordinator, Communities@Work on 6288 4744, or
email supergrands@commsatwork.org

v Tenancy Information Stalls

The TU ACT can participate in community events by holding an information stall. Through the stalls we can provide basic tenancy information kits, basic occupancy information kits plus a range of other tenancy related information and referrals.

If you are organising an event and would like us to participate please call us for more information on 6247 1027 or send us a message, click here.