Renters with a disability more likely to be evicted for no reason: Report

A shocking new report has revealed that renters living with disabilities are kicked out of their homes for no reason at almost double the rate of other Australians.

The research, conducted by CHOICE, National Shelter and the National Association of Tenant Organisations, found that 16 per cent of people with disabilities who rent a property have been served a no-grounds eviction, compared to just 9 per cent of all other Australian renters.

Titled Disrupted: The Consumer Experience of Renting in Australia, the report was launched at Parliament House in Canberra last week. It also revealed that people with disabilities are two-and-a-half times more likely to experience issues with property inspections than the general renting population.

“This report clearly shows that people with disability in Australia need rental reform,” said Dean Price, from People with Disability Australia. “People with disability who live in private rental are faced with discrimination and the threat of losing their home.

“People with disability fear ‘no grounds’ evictions with good reason – this report shows that this is more likely to happen to people with disability. This fear means that people with disability can find it hard to ask for essential repairs, adequate heating or cooling, or action on mould.”

The report also highlighted other issues which affect tenants with disabilities, such as the money spent hiring removalists with 58 per cent paying for help with moving, compared to just 46 per cent of all other renters who do so. The issue of stress was also raised as 92 per cent of disability renters expressed a concern about the “stress caused by the effort needed to move” after their last move, compared to 82 per cent of the rest of those who rent.

Thomas, a 51-year-old renter from New South Wales, revealed he was evicted from a previous property after he complained about termite damage to the flat which was went unrepaired.

“Currently I have a hole in my bathroom ceiling where rain gets in when it rains hard, that hasn’t been repaired for six years,” he said. “The ceiling is mouldy, which they say is my responsibility.

“I complained of a hot water system leak, which they left until the floor swelled and the tiles broke and the cupboards softened. I had to stay at a friend’s for two months while they repaired the kitchen. At a previous flat, termite damage was unrepaired for over a year, and then the rent was raised. When I complained,I was evicted with six weeks’ notice.”