Calls by a local resident to meet with the NSW Premier and Prime Minister have fallen on deaf ears as he demands change in the rental market.
Melville Toms has lived in a National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) property in Kingswood for the past three years and is among the tens of thousands of Australians who benefit from this scheme.
Originally set up in 2008 by the Rudd Government, the scheme is now “winding down” and will officially come to a close in 2026.
The scheme worked by paying property owners a financial incentive to rent out homes at below market value for 10 years.
The last of the homes under the scheme are set to leave in 2026.
“I think that personally they have rushed the NRAS scheme [ending] through and they must consider that a lot of the difficulties that they have put people under,” Toms said.
“The real estates and the landlords have been unjust and unfair in such a way that it has become untenable for a lot of people that rent in difficult financial situations as a result and the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and the NSW Premier Chris Minns have got to be made aware of this.”
Toms was told on Christmas Eve that the property he was living in was being removed from the NRAS scheme this month and his rent will increase to $660 a fortnight.
Many NRAS properties are managed by community housing providers, which means their rent will stay below market value when the scheme ends but for people like Toms whose property is privately owned their rent will be dictated by the owner.
Toms has demanded that the politicians work with people who this is affecting to reach a tenable outcome.
“The poor people that rent are the ones stuck in the middle… and that’s where I challenge the Prime Minister to get off his butt and out of his ivory tower, the same with Dutton and Premier Minns. They are looking at other things and funding other things, but they are not looking at the major issues in their own backyard,” Toms said.
“They’ve got to start looking where the problems are lying and fix our backyard up first. It’s injustice and unfair on the old people who are made to suffer like this when it is not bloody necessary.
“They keep pushing down our throat about social housing but there is no social housing! Even if there was, there is a lot of waiting before you even get on the list and there is no guarantee we would get anything because we might be dead by then. I’m nearly 80 and I’m living day by day.”
Homes NSW, a State Government body designed to assist in social and affordable housing, recognised how hard it is to acquire affordable housing for low income earners right now.
“Homes NSW acknowledges the housing crisis across the state and remains committed to supporting families and individuals experiencing housing stress and homelessness,” a spokesperson for Homes NSW said.
“The reality is that due to the crisis in the private rental market, people are unable to acquire appropriate rental housing, and they often end up on the social housing waitlist.
“Homes NSW continues to work across all levels of government and with community partners to make this state a place where everyone has access to safe and secure housing, and where experiences of homelessness are rare, brief and not repeated.
“Anyone experiencing or at risk of homelessness can contact the statewide homelessness information and referral telephone service, Link2Home, on 1800 152 152. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said there will be homes retained by Community Housing Providers.
“The Federal Government’s 10-year National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) operates within the private rental market and is due to wind up by 2026,” the spokesperson said.
“We estimate more than 3,100, or around half of NRAS properties in NSW are being retained by not-for-profit Community Housing Providers, which is good news.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have visibility over how many private NRAS participants will retain their properties, as many are owned by investors.
“Anyone who is being impacted by changes to the Federal Government’s NRAS scheme is invited to reach out to our office or directly to Homes NSW. We will arrange a Housing Services Support Officer to reach out for a confidential discussion regarding their housing options.”
The Weekender reached out to Federal Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil for comment but did not receive a response.
The Weekender also reached out to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns on behalf of Toms but did not receive a response.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.