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For the past two years, I have been living in a state of ongoing trauma, tormented by my neighbour’s domestic violence of their Antisocial Behaviour. This home has turned into a personal nightmare, resulting in psychological trauma and a permanent injury for me. I have sent over 300 emails complete with CCTV evidence of breaches to housing, the local MP, local council and the NSW Police, have managed to prompt the New South Wales Department of Housing / NSW Homes to respond, and resolve these issues., without response or resolution. 

This is not just my story but of thousands of tenants trapped in the clutches of a broken system. These government organisations, mandated to protect their tenants, are failing to adhere to the NSW Legislation (The law) of the  NSW Residential Tenancy Act 2010.

Majority of housing tenants are vulnerable people and cannot afford private lawyers to negotiate with large government bodies. What other choice do they have? 

It is appalling that not only are tenants just seen a numbers or constant cash flow for the landlord’s investment. Housing do not show any remorse, care, compassion or support for those vulnerable tenants facing everyday challenges such as, physical health, mental health, low income or their general welfare. 

The NSW Homes has clearly shown from years of lack of response to tenants that, they are only interested in the incoming rent been paid for financial gain. 

These governmental bodies should not be allowed to operate above the law.  It’s time NSW Homes take responsibility and accountability for their failures towards their tenants.   These organisations should be held to the same laws and standards as every other Landlord in NSW. 

We urge NSW Government, NSW Homes, Department of Housing and Ministerial Parliamentary Officials to follow the NSW Legislation (the Law) of the Residential Tenancy Act, specifically to:

ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR / MENTAL HEALTH
Antisocial behaviour and tenancy disputes should be addressed promptly, as dictated by their own policies and procedures. The Department’s continuing failure to uphold these provisions not only undermines the safety and well-being of tenants like myself but breaches the trust of every tenant who places their welfare in the hands of this system.
* Rigorously enforce the 'Two-Strike Rule'  to ensure tenant disputes are resolved within the legally-required 12-month period. including; behaviour management plans,  warning notices,  and if necessary eviction.

* Implement stricter accountability measures to ensure timely and effective responses to tenant complaints about antisocial behaviour . 
* Communication feedback to tenants that their complaints has been received and when to expect an outcome. 

* Affected adjoining tenants and other neighbours suffer from lack of enjoyment of peace in their own homes. Incidents get dismissed, written housing statements get dismissed. 
*Usually police are needed, written statements given and event numbers. 
*Tenants seek for Personal Apprehension Violence Orders on their own. As NSW police can only give AVO to people in a domestic relationship, not to neighbours. 

*Tenants needing to get their own CCTV surveillance for their own safety. It will not protect them, nor be a deterrent to the offender, but provide evidence of incidents. 

*Tenants suffering from neighbouring tenant’s antisocial behaviour of severe domestic violence causing psychological trauma, distress, PTSD, C- PTSD, insomnia, disturbance to routine, fear of neighbours, anxiety, depression and some requiring medical attention such as medications, psychological treatments, psychiatric hospital admissions and expensive treatments. 

*Offending tenants; damage to other properties, interference with utility supply ; turning off or disconnecting. Stealing property, verbal abuse, common assaults, intimidation, and use of substances. 

 MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

Hundreds of tenants living in unliveable conditions due to NSW Housing refusing to do necessary repairs and maintenance before the job becomes too large and expensive. 

* Maintenance and repairs not been done in a timely manner. Dangerous jobs left exposed / unattended causing tenants to become sick, injured or die in the process of waiting for necessary repairs.

*Illness induced from mould, leaking pipes, open electrical sites, structural damages etc. tenants needing to take time off work, try to fix it themselves, get injured, require medical attention , or the worse case; the elderly are left to die waiting for necessary repairs. 

*Communication feedback to tenants on the progress of their repairs requests. Eg; waiting for tradesmen to measure, seeking qualified tradesmen to do the job, getting budget approval, when to expect the repairs to be completed. 
*Communication with tenants of when the respective tradesperson would show up, they just turn up unannounced without notice. 

*Tradesperson not doing the job to appropriate standards, leaving poor workmanship , and tenants getting injured; slips , trips, electric shocks, children , elderly and vulnerable getting hurt from exposed dangerous conditions. 

*NSW homes not implementing a preventative plan of closing off , temporarily covering dangerous site. Allowing the home to be more safe until appropriate works can be performed and completed. Not doing this leaves the tenants at a high probability of not been safe , injured or die. Maintenance repairs and requests are not assessed for risk of safety or hazards. 

*There are tenants that have the NDIS who have support workers coming into these homes which are not safe, but still need to provide a service to the tenants as part of their NDIS plans: in home care. Thus, not making tenants homes a safe work environment for NDIS or other service providers. 

ADMINSTRATION

*Communication to tenants on the progress of their housing transfer requests and case matters. Tenants do not know how far along the waiting list they are, when they get approved and what category the approval is. Tenants are told “ don’t ring the office, we will ring you”, or to keep themselves updated with the MyHousing App. 

*New tenants are not assessed appropriately if they are to be suitably housed in the neighbourhood. Eg; approving a criminal not so long out of jail, with multiple substances challenges , moving into complexes next to elderly and children. 

*There is nil feedback, communication or support to tenants who have been or who are affected by the negligence by NSW homes. If a tenant cannot get any information via phone, they are forced to go into the office in person. Only to be faced with discrimination and unprofessional misconduct from NSW housing employees. 

*NSW homes overcharging tenants when circumstances change, and taking extensive periods of time to correct / refund back the tenants. Thus, allowing NSW homes to keep the funds and accrued interest on those funds. 
*tenants are not matched correctly for a suitable home that meets their medical needs. This resulting along long wait for a second offer. 

 * Scheduled, routine and periodic housing inspections , especially to properties where neighbours have complained about excessive rubbish, noise, loud parties, frequency of numerous strangers coming and going from property. Neighbouring tenants smelling certain offending odours. Private rentals get inspected every 3-6 months. NSW homes would do an inspection perhaps once every 5 years. 

*Regular housing inspections prevent the offending tenants from allowing extra additional occupants to live rent free for extended periods at a time. To ensure that there isn’t any illegal activity or behaviour occurring. Assess if any property damage has occurred from antisocial misbehaving tenants.

*inspections to prevent the use of the premises for the manufacture, sale, cultivation or supply of any prohibited drugs

We want to be heard. We want our individual cases heard. We want responses of our individual cases. We want action taken to rectify the unlawful breaches of the law by NSW Homes. 

A Royal Commission is required to investigate the misconduct, mismanagement, and justice of NSW Homes. If necessary a Class Action for compensation to the thousands of tenants affected. 

Please sign this petition to stand with us in exposing and rectifying these unlawful practices in social housing. Your signature can help us bring about much-needed change and ensure fair treatment for every tenant in New South Wales. Together, we can make a difference.