New survey uncovers widespread fear and anxiety in Australia's private rental market
One in five renters live in a home with mould, flooding or leaking. One in four suffer ongoing problems with pests, including cockroaches, moths and ants.
Eight per cent live in properties in need of urgent repairs.
But half of renters in Australia live in fear of being blacklisted on a bad tenants register, meaning they often do not ask for the vital repairs needed for fear of retaliation by their landlord.
New survey uncovers widespread fear and anxiety in Australia's private rental market
Private landlords were more likely to respond quickly to tenant requests for repairs than real estate agents. But real estate agents were more likely to resolve the problem to a satisfactory degree.
Worryingly, 11 per cent of renters who requested a repair copped a rent hike after their request and 10 per cent said their landlord or agent had become angry after the request.
New survey uncovers widespread fear and anxiety in Australia's private rental market
"We need a system in which rental housing is seen not just as a tax shelter, but shelter for human beings," Mr Cutcher said.
New survey uncovers widespread fear and anxiety in Australia's private rental market
"We need a system in which rental housing is seen not just as a tax shelter, but shelter for human beings," Mr Cutcher said.
New survey uncovers widespread fear and anxiety in Australia's private rental market
When applying for properties, 60 per cent of renters consider the amount of information they are forced to divulge about themselves "excessive". Nearly half – 45 per cent – fear their private information will not be handled in accordance with law. One in seven – 14 per cent – are promised things during the application process that never materialised and 8 per cent were asked to pay a rent different to the amount advertised.
