Renting in Australia isn’t the same everywhere—at least, that’s what a new report has found. Two years after a big promise to improve renters’ rights, it turns out progress is patchy at best. Some states are leading the charge, while others are stuck in neutral. So, where are renters treated the best—and where do they have it worst?
The National Report Card: Mixed Results Across the Country
A new report card, released by the National Association of Renters’ Organisations (NARO) and National Shelter, gives us a snapshot of how states and territories are holding up on the rental reforms pledged in 2023. Unfortunately, the results show that while some areas have made strides, others have left renters hanging. You’d think that after a national commitment, things would be moving forward uniformly, but—plot twist—it really depends on your postcode.
Renting in Victoria: A Step Ahead
Let’s start with the good news. Victoria’s been the star pupil. The state’s made a real effort to adopt a range of reforms—seven, to be exact. This includes pushing forward on energy efficiency standards for rental properties (something that’s been long overdue). It’s not just the big-ticket items; Victoria’s also setting the bar on making life easier for renters in a variety of smaller but meaningful ways. For example, tenants now have more protections around personal data when they apply for a rental.
NSW and the ACT are not too far behind, each making significant strides. Both have tackled some tricky issues, like limiting how often rent can be increased. The ACT has gone even further, introducing a cap on how much landlords can hike rent, which is a huge win for renters who’ve been hit with unpredictable rent rises.
The Bad News: Northern Territory and WA
But here’s where things get murky. Over in the Northern Territory, things are still grim. Renters can face rent increases every six months, which puts them at the mercy of landlords. No new policies to fix this have been introduced, and that’s left many feeling exposed. Similarly, Western Australia is lagging behind in many areas. The state has made little progress on key issues like no-grounds evictions and minimum rental standards.
Other states, like Tasmania and Queensland, are somewhere in the middle. They’ve made progress in some areas, like limiting lease break fees and introducing protections for domestic violence victims. But there’s still a lot of ground to cover before renters can enjoy consistent, fair treatment across the board.
What’s Still Left to Do?
So, what’s still on the table? For starters, no-grounds evictions are still an issue. While half of the jurisdictions have made strides to tackle this, it’s still legal in many areas. Rent increases also remain a sticking point. While some states have implemented limits, others, like the Northern Territory, are still stuck with the old, outdated system of allowing rent hikes every six months.
But perhaps the biggest disappointment has been the lack of progress on minimum rental standards. Only Victoria has made significant headway here with new energy efficiency rules. Elsewhere, it’s been a bit of a standstill. This is where renters are really feeling the pinch, as many are still dealing with properties that aren’t up to scratch.
