Renters in NSW now have a dedicated Rental Taskforce to hold landlords and real estate agents to account and will address rental law violations following the Government’s most significant rental reforms in more than a decade.
With an $8.4 million investment, NSW Fair Trading’s Rental Taskforce will analyse activities and trends within the rental market and conduct compliance activities such as inspections, audits, and blitzes to prevent and act on breaches of the law.
“Our inspectors will be out in full force to ensure real estate agents and landlords are complying with new and existing rental laws to ease the stress placed on renters by things like no grounds evictions and rent bidding.” said Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong.
“While the majority of agents and landlords are doing the right thing, this $8.4m investment targets bad actors who make life tougher for renters.
“With these resources, NSW renters can be assured we’re working hard on a fairer rental market for tenants.”
The new taskforce is a multi-disciplinary team with new and existing resources drawn from across NSW Fair Trading and led by a newly appointed Rental Taskforce Manager reporting to the NSW Rental Commissioner, Trina Jones.
The Rental Taskforce will focus on three key priorities:
- Ending solicited rent bidding
- Implementing renting reforms to prevent no grounds evictions
- Ensuring improved responses to repairs and maintenance in the rental market
The NSW Government is also working to deliver cost of living relief to renters by delivering a Portable Rental Bond Scheme, which is due to go live in the second half of this year.
“The Rental Taskforce is here to protect the rights of renters and hold bad actors to account.” said Rental Commissioner Trina Jones.
“It’s critical to provide renters and property providers with assurance that bad actors will not be permitted to cause harm in the market.”
“The Rental Taskforce is a dedicated and skilled team made up of new and existing roles focused on preventing and responding to breaches of rental laws.”
“This will support a fair and safe marketplace for rented homes in NSW and contribute to improved confidence in the rental marlet.”
For more information on changes to NSW rental laws, please visit the NSW Fair Trading website at: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/.
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