More than two thirds of Australian renters do not ask for repairs to be done in the fear their rent would be increased.
A new national survey also found a third of renters would be unable to afford their rent if it went up by five percent.
ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie said the new research found half of renters (50 percent) lived in homes that needed repairs and one in 10 need urgent repairs.
Dr Goldie said the survey found almost one in three (31 percent) rental homes had pests such as cockroaches and ants, almost one in four (24 percent) had leaks or flooding, and one in five (21 percent) had issues with hot water, while almost one in five bathrooms (18 percent) had mould.
She said it found 68 percent of renters feared that asking for a repair would lead to a rent increase, 56 percent feared it would lead to eviction and 52 percent feared being placed on a blacklist that would prevent them renting another property.
“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. We urge state and federal governments to work together to cap rent increases, abolish no-grounds evictions and boost social housing to ensure people on low incomes have safe, secure and affordable homes.”
Dr Goldie said the figures were worse for renters in disadvantaged groups, especially renters who were unemployed, renters with low education and renters with disability.
She said the report noted that rents had surged by a staggering 47 percent in the past five years.
The research was conducted by the ACOSS/UNSW Sydney-led Poverty and Inequality Partnership, National Shelter and the National Association of Renter Organisations (NARO).
Download the report: Rights at risk. Rising rents and repercussions. The experience of renting in Australia.
