INTERNATIONAL TENANCY WEEK 2008

Housing affordability is a hot topic in Western Australia – soaring rental prices and a lack of available stock mean it is becoming extremely hard for many people to find affordable rental housing anywhere in this State.  Added to these issues is the failure of Australian governments to provide tenants with sufficient consumer protection laws.

The cost of renting and a lack of tenants’ rights is a problem for people across the globe.  Tenants from as far away as Sweden, Canada and the Czech Republic are facing similar difficulties to tenants in Perth.

The difficulties of finding affordable, appropriate and secure private rental housing in Western Australia are matched by long waiting lists and tightening eligibility criteria for public housing.  State and Federal governments have failed to sufficiently fund the public housing sector to enable it to meet demand for its services.  As a result, it is becoming more and more difficult to qualify for access to public housing and, even if you do qualify, the wait for accommodation can take years.

To raise awareness of the issues faced by tenants around the world, International Tenancy Day is held on the first Monday of October each year.  Organized by the International Union of Tenants, it seeks to promote the rights of people to secure tenure and affordable housing.  The day falls within the United Nations’ Habitat Week.  Habitat Week seeks to draw international attention to people’s basic right to shelter and to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of humanity. 

To coincide with these international events, Tenancy Week in Australia will be held from 29 September to 3 October 2008.

Tenancy Week will raise awareness of housing affordability and tenancy consumer issues through a variety of events that will be held across WA during this period. 

It is important that tenants are aware of their rights and responsibilities, particularly in the current housing market.  Advice for tenants is provided free of charge throughout the year by tenant advocates across the State and through the Tenants Advice Service telephone lines.