Push to end no grounds evictions in NSW

The Greens introduced a bill to the NSW parliament on Thursday which could bring an end to "no grounds evictions", where tenants are forced to leave their home without being given a reason.

Currently renters can be evicted after a six or 12-month lease, without the landlord having to give a reason.

There is no recourse for renters evicted under "no grounds" even if they have paid rent on time, and otherwise been a model tenant.

Greens MP Jenny Leong says landlords are abusing the situation, kicking out good tenants when they see an opportunity to collect more rent.

"If a landlord believes that they can get more money for a new tenant, they can simply terminate the lease of the existing tenant with no grounds and no good reason."

The result has been skyrocketing rental prices across Sydney and in regional NSW, affecting the nearly one-third of people in the state who rent.

The laws have also caused reluctance among some tenants to negotiate basic repairs for fear of being kicked out of their homes.

Overwhelmed by rising prices, Sydney renters are increasingly being driven into the regions where where rents are also on the rise, putting strain on country people.

Ms Leong says scrapping no grounds evictions could ease cost of living pressures as residents continue to grapple with escalating fuel, electricity and grocery bills, and provide stable housing to about one million people over Christmas.

"Many NSW renters don't know where they will be living from year to year or in some cases from month to month."

In 2018, NSW parliament came close to abolishing no grounds evictions, during a review of the Residential Tenancies Act.

An amendment which would have seen no grounds evictions scrapped was supported by Labor, the Greens and independent MPs, but was opposed by the government.

Eviction and relocation cost the average renter about $4000, according to recent data from the tenants union.

About one-third of renters will face an eviction at some point through no fault of their own.

Tenants Union of NSW chief executive Leo Patterson Ross says no grounds evictions continue to undermine renters' ability to maintain a stable home.

The advocacy service had been receiving an increasing number of requests from people evicted for no reason, who often had nowhere to go, he told AAP.

Renters deserve transparency about why they might be forced to move, he said.

The bill would set out grounds under which a lease could be ended, including that a landlord or family member want to live in the property for 12 months, that repairs would make the property unliveable, or the premises would be used in a way that makes it uninhabitable.

The bill also looks to compensate renters who are wrongfully evicted.

Australian Associated Press