Yesterday, we co-signed a letter with TasCOSS and Shelter Tasmania calling for standard application forms and lease agreements.   We believe that Real Estate Agencies and private landlords should not be able to require credit and criminal history checks during the application process and we have called for consultation on the questions that should and […]

  Update: After Bill’s story featured in the local ABC news in late February, the wasp nest on his property was removed. However, Housing Tasmania did not change its policy, which still states that pest and vermin are a tenant responsibility. We have send the following letter to Housing Tasmania on 3 May 2017.   Original […]

Tenants in Australia do not have it easy. They fear eviction and rent increases, and have to put their privacy on hold for quarterly inspections by their landlord. We have heard these stories by the hundreds through our advice line, drop in service and at court. The report Unsettled. Life in Australia’s private rental market, jointly published by CHOICE, National Shelter and the National […]

The following Community Legal Education sessions are open to the public:   11 April 2018 Rosebery Community House 11:30 am 12 April 2018 Burnie Linc 10 am 12 April 2018 George Town Neighbourhood House 2 pm 18 April 2018 Multicultural Hub Moonah 6 pm (semi-public, please contact MHM) 4 May 2018 Pittwater Neighbourhood House 10:30 […]

This week is National Volunteer Week and here at the Tenants’ Union we are pretty lucky to have some amazing people donating their wisdom and time to our cause. Volunteers run our advice line and I mean RUN not walk. Every day we receive about 20 calls from people seeking our advice. Within 24 hours […]

Changes to the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 (the Act) have been coming into practice over the past few years and will continue to change until August 2018. The variations in time frames are to allow landlords the opportunity to ensure their rental properties meet the required standards without placing too much of a financial burden […]

Smoking is banned in Tasmania from all public indoor areas. You can even be fined for smoking in your car when a minor is also present. But, what about smoking in rental properties? Is there a general ban on smoking in your home if you are renting? Reviewing the Residential Tenancy Act 1997, which lays […]