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NSW landlords cop $65k in rental eviction clampdown
Landlords have been fined more than $65,000 after reforms to crack down on no-grounds rental evictions came into effect last year, with the government continuing to enforce compliance.
The NSW Rental Taskforce has issued a total of $65,450 in fines since the no-grounds eviction ban came into effect one year ago, requiring landlords to have valid reasons to end tenancies.
Under the changes, landlords can only end a lease on specific grounds, which must be backed up with evidence.
After the changes were implemented in May last year, only 30 terminations investigated by the NSW Rental Taskforce have been found to be in breach of the laws.
Where landlord non-compliance has occurred, the watchdog has issued fines totalling $65,450.
Data by NSW Fair Trading also showed that 84 per cent of tenancies have ended through renters’ choice rather than landlord action.
As part of the reforms last year, the government introduced re-letting exclusion periods to ensure there were genuine reasons for eviction.
The measure has resulted in 12 fines totalling $50,050 and 13 formal warnings, with just 4 per cent of the identified properties requiring further investigation.
The state government said the changes were delivering direct, tangible benefits for renters, enabling them to be better informed about their rights and more likely to escalate matters that require intervention.
“Renters are increasingly seeking information about their rights and reporting potential breaches, with visits to the NSW government’s rental website increasing tenfold,” it said.
It said the rental taskforce supported this goal by ensuring compliance and enforcement action against no-grounds evictions and actively intervening to ensure compliance with the laws.
Since the taskforce commenced a year ago, Fair Trading has identified 7,712 rental compliance matters and issued almost 600 fines totalling nearly $421,650.
“The figure is around 15 times the level of rental compliance activity recorded the year before,” the government said.
“Backed by an $8.4 million investment, the Taskforce is helping renters get advice earlier, resolve issues faster, stay in their homes where possible, and have greater confidence that rental protections are being actively enforced.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns said it was important to prevent renters from facing constant uncertainty, given that 2.3 million renters across the state were feeling added financial pressure amid rising costs and global issues.
“No family or student should have to worry about being forced out of their home without a reason or facing rent increases every few months,”
“A year on, these reforms are helping give renters greater security and certainty, so young people and families can focus on getting on with their lives,” Minns concluded.
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