{"id":42668,"date":"2023-03-28T07:54:37","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T18:54:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propertynoise.co.nz\/au\/?p=42668"},"modified":"2023-03-28T07:54:37","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T18:54:37","slug":"aussies-fight-back-against-mega-landlord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propertynoise.co.nz\/au\/aussies-fight-back-against-mega-landlord\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussies fight back against mega-landlord"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOTO: Rent increases is at pandemic levels across the country. FILE<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A group of Aussie renters have banded together to fight back against a landlord they claim owns their entire building, in a co-ordinated effort to reject multiple rent increases.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The residents of the 40 to 50-unit apartment block, which went unnamed, joined forces earlier this month to object to a series of weighty rent increases that have plagued the nation in recent months.<\/p>\n

One resident of the complex took to Reddit to share a letter that was circulating in the building, documenting a series of rent increases they said had impacted nearly every unit since early March.<\/p>\n

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\"The<\/div>\n

The letter claimed the rent increases were \u201cnot reasonable or affordable\u201d. Picture: Reddit<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

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\"It<\/div>\n

It called for tenants to band together and reject it. Picture: Reddit<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

\u201cOn 10\/03\/23, a number of tenants from [omitted] Rd were sent emails announcing a substantial rent increase,\u201d the letter read.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo our knowledge, it\u2019s an average of 30%. We suspect all tenants in the building have been given a similar notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not reasonable or affordable.\u201d<\/p>\n

The resident said they believed whole apartment block was \u201cowned by the same entity\u201d because all fire and safety documentation contained the same details as the property owner identified on their lease.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the interest of power in numbers, we suggest sending an email that pushes back and sets out your rights clearly,\u201d the letter continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cFair Trading advises us this must be done within 30 days of the rent increase email being sent.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"The<\/div>\n

The resident said they believed the whole building (not pictured) was owned by one entity. Picture: Damian Shaw<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

The note finished with a brief outline of NSW rental law.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a periodic agreement rent can only be increased once in a 12 month period after the minimum 60 day written notice is given to the tenant,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor agreements with a fixed term of 2 years or more, the rent can only be increased once in a 12-month period. A landlord must also give the tenant at least 60 days written notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor agreements with a fixed term of less than 2 years, the landlord or agent can only increase the rent during the fixed-term if the agreement sets out the increased amount or how the increase will be calculated. The term in the agreement must spell out the amount of the increase or the exact method of calculating the increase (e.g. a dollar amount or %). It cannot be unclear, for example statements \u2018in line with the market\u2019 or \u2018by the rate of inflation\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

The user who posted the letter said their own rent was set to increase by 20 per cent, as they called for greater regulations on companies that own rental properties.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere should be strict regulations on for-profit companies operating rental properties and greater renter rights,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201dThe situation feels like manipulation of a captive market. Our options are 1. accept the rent increase, 2. try and negotiate a lower increase (which has not seen success from what I have heard) or 3. enter the meat grinder that is the rental market at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Tenants<\/div>\n

Tenants held a protest against rent increases on Friday as rents reach an all-time high. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams\/Getty Images<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

Social media users wished the residents luck in their fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need more people standing together to fight for renter\u2019s rights,\u201d one Reddit user wrote.<\/p>\n

Some recommended even more drastic action, saying the situation seemed like the \u201cperfect opportunity for a rental strike\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet all the apartments to work together and not pay rent until this bulls**t is rescinded,\u201d one such user said.<\/p>\n

Others, however, noted that the power imbalance tilted in the favour of the landlord.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir next move will be the issuing of a no grounds termination notice to anyone pushing back, giving affected residents 30-90 days to leave so they can then start afresh with a doubling of the rent,\u201d said one commenter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? Because they are c***s and they can.\u201d<\/p>\n

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