Rally against Olympic rent increases

Rally against Olympic rent increases

By Margaret Gleeson

SYDNEY — Rentwatchers, a coalition of community groups (including Redfern Legal Centre, Tenants Union of NSW, Tenants Advice Services and Shelter NSW) has called a demonstration outside the conference "Living in the Olympic State" at Parramatta on November 13.

The demonstration will take up the need for legislation to protect boarders and lodgers and private renters from rent hikes and eviction before the games as well as the provision of emergency accommodation.

"Despite the Labor Party's promise at the last NSW election to extend residential tenancies legislation to cover boarders and lodgers, limited progress has been made", Will Roden from Shelter said.

"The need for timely action has been confirmed by recent interviews with representatives from the housing industry that reveal their intention to redevelop existing boarding house sites."

Roden said that events such as the Olympics have the effect of inflating rents. "The NSW government, however, appears unwilling to consider measures to protect private rental tenants unless an 'Olympic effect' can be clearly demonstrated. The problem is that it is difficult to prove that such an effect exists before the event.

"Emergency services are already overloaded, and during the Olympic period the number of homeless people is expected to increase. It is therefore essential that work on building more accommodation units begins now."

Transport has been organised for people going from the city to the demonstration which is to begin at 9am on Thursday, November 13, at the Gazebo Hotel, 350 Church Street, Parramatta.

Call Beth or Mary at the Redfern Legal Centre on 9698 7277 for further details.

From GLW issue 297