Today Jenny Leong MP, NSW Greens Housing spokesperson and Member for Newtown, introduced rent control legislation to NSW Parliament that would implement a 12-month freeze on rents and then establish a permanent 2% cap on annual rent increases.
As stated by Jenny Leong, NSW Greens spokesperson for Housing and Homelessness and Member for Newtown:
“The Rent Control Bill we put forward today would deliver an immediate solution to the devastating rental crisis squeezing millions of people across NSW.”
“Every day that the Government fails to act to protect millions of renters from unlimited increases, more and more people are being pushed to breaking point.”
“We can’t ignore the desperation that so many in our communities are feeling as rents continue to rise pushing them further into housing stress, poverty, onto the public and social housing waitlist, and even into homelessness.
“The Greens have done the work drafting this legislation and putting it on the agenda – we know the urgency of providing immediate relief and ongoing protection to renters across NSW.
“There is no greater way for this Parliament to deliver relief to millions across this state who are struggling more and more every month while the cost of everything including rent goes up faster than wages, and it is a reform that would not cost the Government one cent.”
“When it comes to the profits of property investors or the right of millions of renters to a decent, affordable home – we have to ask Labor and Liberal, whose side are you on?”
“It took the Government 10 years from when the Greens first introduced a bill to ban no-grounds eviction, to finally pass that reform. How long will the millions of renters struggling with uncontrolled rent increases have to wait for the major parties to get on board this time?
“The Greens know – we need rent controls now.”
BACKGROUND
Since the last state election, the median rent in NSW has gone up 22% and the public and social housing waiting list has increased by 25%. Nearly half of Sydney renters are living in rental stress.
Polling released on 14 October by The Australia Institute indicates super-majority support for government intervention to control rents: 51% of NSW voters support rent caps at inflation or less with another 25% going further to support a temporary rent freeze. Only 15% of NSW voters back the status quo of no limits on rent rises.
The Greens Rent Control Bill proves that there are straightforward legislative changes that would deliver significant relief to millions of NSW renters. All that is needed now is for the Parliament to listen to the overwhelming majority who support rent controls.
The Greens Rent Control Bill will deliver relief to the 2 million renters in NSW in four steps:
· 12-month rent freeze and automatic backpay of any rent increases since 30 June 2026.
· 2% cap on future increases.
· Empowering renters to seek reductions.
· Security of tenure with 2-year fixed terms.
Rent caps will save renters $1000s per year.
Government data reveals the median renter protected by a 2% rent cap between 2023-2026 would have saved:
· Sydney LGA: $7,479
· Inner West LGA: $4,555
· Penrith LGA: $4,493
· Byron LGA: $6,516
· Ballina LGA: $5,686
