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About the ACT Tenants' Union Inc. The Tenants’ Union is an independent community legal centre initially formed by a group of tenants who came together to promote the rights and interests of people renting their homes in the ACT. Our definition of tenants is all people paying money to another to live in their place of residence. TU members include private tenants, public tenants, community housing tenants, boarders and lodgers, people in living in student accommodation, caravan parks, supported accommodation and others interested in supporting the work of the TU. Many of the problems tenants face can be too big for one individual to tackle alone. Tenants need a group that will talk to government, media, landlord groups and real estate agents on our behalf. We need a group that can express our views and concerns. The Tenants' Union is committed to addressing the inequities that exist between tenants and lessors. To tenants our houses are our homes, but to landlords they are simply an investment. With your support the Tenants' Union can provide a stronger voice for tenants. Our success depends on the continued support and resourcing of members. WHAT WE DO We provide : ...Telephone advice on tenancy issues through our Tenants’ Advice Service. We also provide information on tenants' rights and responsibilities and conduct free community education and training on tenancy issues, for community groups, workplaces, schools and other groups of interested people. We represent: ...Tenants’ interests to a range of organisations - government and non-government at all levels of decision-making and participation, local, national and international.  We provide a voice for tenants and represent tenants’ interests in changes to tenancy (and related) law in the ACT. Are you a tenant? Tell us what you think our position should be on inspections, repairs, rent increases and resolving disputes. We liaise with: ...The Residential Tenancies Tribunal, Housing ACT, the ACT Government, the Office of Rental Bonds, the Real Estate Institute and other relevant bodies to ensure tenants’ rights are upheld and that rental housing is fair. How we are funded The vast majority of our funding comes from tenants' money through the Office of Rental Bonds (ORB).  When tenants lodge their bonds this money is held in trust by ORB.  The ORB is a statutory authority.  The Residential Tenancies Act requires that the money is held in a special account.  The interest earned on tenants' money is used to fund the ORB (tenants funds are not used at all), the Residential Tenancies Tribunal (so tenants already pay for operation of the RTT), and to the TU to operate the advice service and provide other assistance to ACT tenants. Our funding is managed through the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The TU also occasionally receives grants for specific projects from a variety of funding sources.  Our membership rates are very low in order to encourage people to support us by joining and the small amount of membership funds are used towards the activities noted above. Become a member! By joining and becoming a member, you will be adding your support to Tenants' Union activities. Members receive a full set of pamphlets and access to any new publications as they are prepared, a free subscription to Tenant News (a newsletter for ACT tenants), the opportunity to have a say on issues that affect tenants' homes, and a chance to be involved in policy developed by the Tenants' Union. Please note that becoming a member does not affect access to assistance through our Tenants' Advice Service.  Members are required to access the service in the same manner as all other tenants, members receive the same type of advice and assistance as all other tenants in the ACT.  Our advice service is funded by all tenants' money and all tenants' have equal access. The Tenants' Union needs your support Become a member and strengthen the Union's voice on housing issues. Encourage friends to join! To join, 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. If you have any questions you can also send us an e-mail: tuact@bigpond.net.au or click here