Private housing tenants scared to ask about repairs   

Jun 23, 2025.
New Daily.

A third of renters couldn't afford a five per cent increase on what they pay, a survey found.


Almost seven in 10 private housing tenants worry about asking for repairs in case they face a rent increase.

A survey of more than a thousand renters across Australia has also found a third would be unable to afford a five per cent increase on what they’re currently paying.


Half the respondents live in homes that need repairs and one in 10 need them carried out urgently.   

Conducted by the Australian Council of Social Security, University of NSW, Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership, National Shelter and the National Association of Renter Organisations, the study is the 26th published by the advocacy network.

It found 31 per cent of rental homes have cockroach, ant or other pest problems, almost a quarter are leaky and one in five have issues with hot water, while almost as many feature mouldy bathrooms.

Rents have, meanwhile, surged a staggering 47 per cent in the past five years amid calls for nationwide rental increase limits.

Even so, researchers found 68 per cent of tenants fear asking their landlord to repair their residence would mean upping the rent, 56 per suspect it would get them evicted and 52 per cent worry that they would be placed on a blacklist stopping them renting another property.

The findings were magnified for tenants in disadvantaged groups, especially the unemployed, poorly educated and disabled.

ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie says the study highlights the serious failings of Australia’s housing market.

“It is completely unacceptable that people in the private rental market are nervous about asking for essential repairs because they fear a rent increase or eviction notice,” she said.


“Everyone deserves to be able to live in secure homes without the constant fear of losing their home.”

National Association of Renters’ Organisations spokesman Leo Patterson said the report validated what tenants already knew.

“Despite extensive rental laws on paper, it exposes the stark gap between legislation and reality,” he said.

“Weak oversight of rental costs, property standards and industry practices have denied renters the benefits of a safe, stable and healthy home.”

The agencies involved in the project are calling for a limit to the amount and frequency of rent increases, improved legal security via the abolition of no-grounds evictions and more funding for tenants’ advice services.

Gnads wrote on Jun 24^th, 2025 at 7:02am:



What a load of horseshit. Renters are usually subject to 3 monthly inspections which go over both house and yard with a white glove.

They check behind the oven.

Home owners have no idea. Suffice it to say you wouldn't get away with most of your life if it were scrutinised like renters are subject to. Every. Three. Months.

So it logically follows that the properties you are complaining about fall to home owners. Easy mistake to make when you liten to too much Sky "News".

mothra wrote on Jun 24^th, 2025 at 7:38am:


Wow, that is unfortunate for you mothra, having a real estate agent that does their job. Usually they only bother if they decide they can't trust you for some reason.

freediver wrote on Jun 24^th, 2025 at 8:18am:



What? You think estate agents only check properties of tenants they're suspicious of?

Where are you people getting your information from?

All Renters are hoarder & squalor ALP voters.
Isn't that right Mothra?

mothra wrote on Jun 24^th, 2025 at 8:30am:


We have probably all rented before Mothra, and the people I know now who own property and rent it out are never satisfied with the agents due dilligence. My landlord never did 3 monthly inspections, though one lot that I think wanted to get rid of us decided they wanted to sell the house, so they had a few open houses on a saturday morning. We moved out shortly after. I never checked whether they did sell the house.

If renters are afraid, it probably means they are getting a good deal, so it probably does come with a few strings implicitly attached - you are getting a cheap house because it is in poor condition and we are not going to bother fixing it up.

Carl D wrote on Jun 24^th, 2025 at 8:28am:


It's called real estate. It's a bit like used car dealerships.

freediver wrote on Jun 24^th, 2025 at 8:18am:



What crap. Periodic inspection form part of the contract off services between the landlord and the agent. It has nothing to do with trust.

That said, there is a small portion of real estate agents, especially in the bigger cities, who in an effort to save money, overload their property managers to save on staffing costs. A decent property manager can comfortably manage between 80 and 120 properties on their portfolio. That gives them time to make sure all the leases are current, deal with repairs, make sure all the govt compliance etc is maintained, make sure rent is up to date and all the other things that need doing. I know of one highly experienced property manager on the GC who upon getting a new job with a reputable agent about 15 years ago, was given a portfolio of in excess of 420 properties, scattered around the gold coast. The principal had a rental pool of almost 1500 properties, and only 3 property managers. There is no way on earth one property manager can take care of 400+ properties properly. In those cases, it's the landlords and tenants who make the most noise who get all the attention.

mothra wrote on Jun 24^th, 2025 at 7:38am:


I don't know about SA but in qld and NSW, they're usually 6 monthly inspections. The only ones doing 3 monthly inspections that I am aware off are onsite managers in gated communities and high rise etc because they are already on site.