With the outbreak of the coronavirus at hand, renters in Australia now have some new rights, although they're only temporary. 'Unfortunately, tenants are often unaware of their rights or are reluctant to enforce the rights they do have for fear of possible reprisal, particularly given the shortage of affordable rental properties.'
'Renting can, and should, be a legitimate long-term housing option for those who want it,' says Yaelle Caspi from the Tenants Union of Victoria. Now more than ever, Australian renters need to be across their rights and be willing to exercise them. In short, it's ugly out there and getting uglier.
The growing ranks of renters face a shortage of properties, high rents, low quality rental stock, and the likelihood of having to find a new place to live on a regular basis. These days the prospect of home ownership is slipping further out of reach for many Australians, and not just those on lower incomes.
