Better Renting
@betterrenting.bsky.social
Better Renting is a community of renters working together for stable, affordable, and healthy homes.
See our upcoming events, latest research, media, & renting news here: https://linktr.ee/BetterRentingAus
See our upcoming events, latest research, media, & renting news here: https://linktr.ee/BetterRentingAus
Pinned
Findings are in: turns out Ethical Jobs is matching all donations to Better Renting this month! We want to create twice as much trouble for landlords who don't treat renting like the essential service it is next year, so doubling our donations is a huge help! Link is below 👇
A new report out this week from Swinburne University and Housing for the Aged Action Group shows that older renters are falling through the cracks, stuck in poor-quality homes they can’t afford, and desperately need stronger protections.
You can find the full report here: tinyurl.com/yeywsbth
You can find the full report here: tinyurl.com/yeywsbth
November 24, 2025 at 8:15 AM
A new report out this week from Swinburne University and Housing for the Aged Action Group shows that older renters are falling through the cracks, stuck in poor-quality homes they can’t afford, and desperately need stronger protections.
You can find the full report here: tinyurl.com/yeywsbth
You can find the full report here: tinyurl.com/yeywsbth
Our Deputy CEO Bernie went on Radio Adelaide's Nanawun Kaldowinyeri to talk about why the failure of the SA minimum standards bill is such a missed opportunity: the community, the evidence, and the research all support minimum standards for rental homes.
November 14, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Our Deputy CEO Bernie went on Radio Adelaide's Nanawun Kaldowinyeri to talk about why the failure of the SA minimum standards bill is such a missed opportunity: the community, the evidence, and the research all support minimum standards for rental homes.
Our CEO Ange met with NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones this week to talk about the changes renters need to ensure they have healthy, stable, affordable homes!
November 13, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Our CEO Ange met with NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones this week to talk about the changes renters need to ensure they have healthy, stable, affordable homes!
🎉 We could not be happier to report that we hit our fundraising goal: the max amount that could receive matched donations from Ethical Jobs this week!
November 13, 2025 at 8:32 AM
🎉 We could not be happier to report that we hit our fundraising goal: the max amount that could receive matched donations from Ethical Jobs this week!
An update from our Deputy CEO on the proposed minimum rental standards bill in South Australia: we're very disappointed in the results, but not defeated by them. An enormous thank-you to everyone who mobilised, contacted MPs, and shared our joint submission. We'll get there.
November 13, 2025 at 1:15 AM
An update from our Deputy CEO on the proposed minimum rental standards bill in South Australia: we're very disappointed in the results, but not defeated by them. An enormous thank-you to everyone who mobilised, contacted MPs, and shared our joint submission. We'll get there.
The SA Legislative Council will vote on minimum standards for rental homes tomorrow. If you care about renters, you know that minimum standards are a no-brainer: no other service that provides shelter to human beings for any extended period of time operates without standards for health/safety.
November 11, 2025 at 4:19 AM
The SA Legislative Council will vote on minimum standards for rental homes tomorrow. If you care about renters, you know that minimum standards are a no-brainer: no other service that provides shelter to human beings for any extended period of time operates without standards for health/safety.
Heads up: you can still get an extra scoop of rental reforms if you donate to Better Renting before noon this coming Thursday! Ethical Jobs is very generously matching every donation made, up to $5000. If you've ever thought about donating and don't do it now, that's like throwing money away!
November 10, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Heads up: you can still get an extra scoop of rental reforms if you donate to Better Renting before noon this coming Thursday! Ethical Jobs is very generously matching every donation made, up to $5000. If you've ever thought about donating and don't do it now, that's like throwing money away!
Findings are in: turns out Ethical Jobs is matching all donations to Better Renting this month! We want to create twice as much trouble for landlords who don't treat renting like the essential service it is next year, so doubling our donations is a huge help! Link is below 👇
November 7, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Findings are in: turns out Ethical Jobs is matching all donations to Better Renting this month! We want to create twice as much trouble for landlords who don't treat renting like the essential service it is next year, so doubling our donations is a huge help! Link is below 👇
🤔 Hmm...something strange seems to be happening with our donation site......it's almost like everything that goes into it is getting...doubled...no, it couldn't be—we'll have to investigate more tomorrow at 12PM to be sure! Stay tuned!
November 5, 2025 at 8:35 AM
🤔 Hmm...something strange seems to be happening with our donation site......it's almost like everything that goes into it is getting...doubled...no, it couldn't be—we'll have to investigate more tomorrow at 12PM to be sure! Stay tuned!
STILL SEEKING RENTER RESEARCHERS: if you want to stop melting in your NSW rental every summer, become a Renter Researcher and join the Renter Lab to put your home's boiling summer temps to good use!
November 5, 2025 at 5:48 AM
STILL SEEKING RENTER RESEARCHERS: if you want to stop melting in your NSW rental every summer, become a Renter Researcher and join the Renter Lab to put your home's boiling summer temps to good use!
⏳ You're running out of time to become a Renter Researcher!
We need Sydney renters to join the Renter Lab to help us gather data on how unbearably hot rental homes get in the summer.
We need Sydney renters to join the Renter Lab to help us gather data on how unbearably hot rental homes get in the summer.
November 3, 2025 at 4:48 AM
⏳ You're running out of time to become a Renter Researcher!
We need Sydney renters to join the Renter Lab to help us gather data on how unbearably hot rental homes get in the summer.
We need Sydney renters to join the Renter Lab to help us gather data on how unbearably hot rental homes get in the summer.
Attention Sydneysiders: a few fun events coming up to add to your calendars!
October 28, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Attention Sydneysiders: a few fun events coming up to add to your calendars!
It's going to get up to 40° in Sydney today. Summer hasn't even started yet.
If you're baking in your rental home, join our Renter Lab to help us make sure renters don't have to suffer through another unbearable summer: bit.ly/renter-lab-S...
If you're baking in your rental home, join our Renter Lab to help us make sure renters don't have to suffer through another unbearable summer: bit.ly/renter-lab-S...
October 22, 2025 at 1:14 AM
It's going to get up to 40° in Sydney today. Summer hasn't even started yet.
If you're baking in your rental home, join our Renter Lab to help us make sure renters don't have to suffer through another unbearable summer: bit.ly/renter-lab-S...
If you're baking in your rental home, join our Renter Lab to help us make sure renters don't have to suffer through another unbearable summer: bit.ly/renter-lab-S...
In the latest effort to crack down on rent bidding, Victorian rental listings online now have to be advertised with one single, fixed price—no more calling up the agent to find out what the secret rent they're looking for you to offer is!
October 21, 2025 at 2:30 AM
In the latest effort to crack down on rent bidding, Victorian rental listings online now have to be advertised with one single, fixed price—no more calling up the agent to find out what the secret rent they're looking for you to offer is!
Anglicare Australia's Essential Workers Report draws on their recent Rental Affordability Snapshot to catalogue just how difficult renting is for workers on middle incomes.
They found that workers earning the median annual income have to spend >50% of their salary to afford the national median rent.
They found that workers earning the median annual income have to spend >50% of their salary to afford the national median rent.
October 20, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Anglicare Australia's Essential Workers Report draws on their recent Rental Affordability Snapshot to catalogue just how difficult renting is for workers on middle incomes.
They found that workers earning the median annual income have to spend >50% of their salary to afford the national median rent.
They found that workers earning the median annual income have to spend >50% of their salary to afford the national median rent.
The Northern Territory Council of Social Service released its report on the cost of housing in the NT yesterday. It shows that despite having the highest proportion of renters in the country, the NT's waitlists for social housing tare 20 times longer than the priority waitlists in the ACT.
October 15, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The Northern Territory Council of Social Service released its report on the cost of housing in the NT yesterday. It shows that despite having the highest proportion of renters in the country, the NT's waitlists for social housing tare 20 times longer than the priority waitlists in the ACT.
Want to volunteer with a cause that helps renters but don't have a ton of time? Join our letters to the editor group & write a quick, <200 word letter to an Australian newspaper about your experiences of renting. We can help as much or as little as you need!
Get started at bit.ly/BR-letters now!
Get started at bit.ly/BR-letters now!
October 14, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Want to volunteer with a cause that helps renters but don't have a ton of time? Join our letters to the editor group & write a quick, <200 word letter to an Australian newspaper about your experiences of renting. We can help as much or as little as you need!
Get started at bit.ly/BR-letters now!
Get started at bit.ly/BR-letters now!
👩🔬 SEEKING OVERHEATED SYDNEY RENTERS: If you rent in the Greater Sydney area, we want *you* to join the Renter Lab and become a summer Renter Researcher with us!
October 14, 2025 at 4:07 AM
👩🔬 SEEKING OVERHEATED SYDNEY RENTERS: If you rent in the Greater Sydney area, we want *you* to join the Renter Lab and become a summer Renter Researcher with us!
Cotality's Rental Review for the quarter was published last week, and it shows that even though growth in rent increases has slowed, renters are still being squeezed: median capital rents are now more than $700 a week.
[Quote in image from Leo Patterson-Ross.]
[Quote in image from Leo Patterson-Ross.]
October 13, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Cotality's Rental Review for the quarter was published last week, and it shows that even though growth in rent increases has slowed, renters are still being squeezed: median capital rents are now more than $700 a week.
[Quote in image from Leo Patterson-Ross.]
[Quote in image from Leo Patterson-Ross.]
Monday was International Tenants' Day! We're genuinely excited by all of the renters' rights movements around the world today—rent controls in Scotland, rent freezes campaigns in NYC, legislation for leases in South Africa, & many more—and hope you too feel buoyed by the wins for renters everywhere.
October 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Monday was International Tenants' Day! We're genuinely excited by all of the renters' rights movements around the world today—rent controls in Scotland, rent freezes campaigns in NYC, legislation for leases in South Africa, & many more—and hope you too feel buoyed by the wins for renters everywhere.
Last week, the National Association of Renters' Organisations and National Shelter released a report following up on the Better Deal for Renters. The Deal has now been in place for two years—has renting gotten any better?
October 7, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Last week, the National Association of Renters' Organisations and National Shelter released a report following up on the Better Deal for Renters. The Deal has now been in place for two years—has renting gotten any better?
🔥 IT'S BACK: To mark International Tenants’ Day, we’re launching another season of our Renter Lab citizen science project! We’re opening applications for Renter Researchers in NSW to help us track just how unbelievably hot renter homes get in the summertime.
October 6, 2025 at 7:34 AM
🔥 IT'S BACK: To mark International Tenants’ Day, we’re launching another season of our Renter Lab citizen science project! We’re opening applications for Renter Researchers in NSW to help us track just how unbelievably hot renter homes get in the summertime.
You've probably seen the patronising "Market Tip Monday!" video from a Barry Plant property manager by now. It explains how tenants need their rent raised a teensy bit at every possible opportunity, so they don't get spooked by how expensive rents are elsewhere when you eventually evict them.
September 30, 2025 at 7:51 AM
You've probably seen the patronising "Market Tip Monday!" video from a Barry Plant property manager by now. It explains how tenants need their rent raised a teensy bit at every possible opportunity, so they don't get spooked by how expensive rents are elsewhere when you eventually evict them.
The ACT decision to make a housing a human right in the territory is great—but it has to mean something. If we call housing a human right and then continue to not provide it to every human, that's worse!
September 25, 2025 at 2:27 AM
The ACT decision to make a housing a human right in the territory is great—but it has to mean something. If we call housing a human right and then continue to not provide it to every human, that's worse!
Back in July, we made a submission to the ACT Legislative Assembly in support of a bill that would recognise housing as a human right in the Territory. Yesterday, that legislation passed, which is great! Every single person should have a safe, healthy, affordable home.
September 18, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Back in July, we made a submission to the ACT Legislative Assembly in support of a bill that would recognise housing as a human right in the Territory. Yesterday, that legislation passed, which is great! Every single person should have a safe, healthy, affordable home.