Heathcote MP Maryanne Stuart has welcomed the appointment of Trina Jones as the first NSW Rental Commissioner.

The Commissioner will be tasked with introducing greater protections for renters and overseeing proposed reforms including:

• Ending no grounds evictions
• Improving the protection of renters’ information and privacy
• Implementing a portable bonds scheme that allows renters to transfer bonds from one property to another
• Making it easier for renters to have pets in their homes

Mrs Stuart said Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed renters throughout the electorate had done it particularly tough over the past few years.

From 2011 to 2021, the number of households in the Wollongong local government area (LGA) rose from 11.7 per cent to 37.1 per cent.

The number of households in rental stress in the Sutherland LGA during the same period also rose from 7.7 per cent to 34.5 per cent.

*A household is considered to be in rental stress when rent payments are equal to 30 per cent or more of income*

Quotes attributable to Heathcote MP Maryanne Stuart:

“Making ends meet for many renters has been extremely difficult in the past few years.

“The last thing renters need to worry about is whether they’ll be evicted for no reason or whether they’ll be able to have pets in their home.

“The reforms proposed by the NSW Government aim to alleviate some of the factors causing unnecessary stress.

“The Commissioner’s appointment will be welcomed by many renters who are desperately seeking greater security in terms of tenancy and conditions.

“The Commissioner will also examine rental affordability, ways to encourage longer terms leases, develop educational resources for renters and owners, and monitor current tenancy laws.”

Submissions regarding the NSW Government’s improvements to rental laws are open until Friday, August 11, and can be made here.