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.
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