A new Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service, commencing 1 July 2024, will empower South Australian renters and include help to resolve tenancy issues avoiding the need for tribunal action.
The service for tenants and residents of residential parks will help by:
- providing a customised financial counselling service
- providing an advocacy and representation service
- giving advice about tenancy rights and responsibilities and the processes of the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT)
- providing in person and online education sessions about tenancy rights and responsibilities
- assisting occupants to complete forms and draft tenancy related letters
- contributing to and informing strategic and operational policy formation at both the agency and sector level, including by preparing submissions about issues affecting tenants and residents for the government's consideration
- having an onsite presence at SACAT.
The new service is expected to help protect vulnerable people by making access to information and high-quality consistent advice and education easily accessible in person, over the phone and online.
Help resolving tenancy issues includes conciliation, negotiation and mediation of disputes and problems between tenants and landlords and between residents and residential park owners. This is to help avoid escalation of a dispute to SACAT.
The organisation delivering this will also have a special focus on supporting tenants and residents from all communities, including indigenous and migrant groups that can be assisted when barriers to communication arise with landlords, park owners or their agents.
The free and independent state-wide service will be delivered by RentRight SA with $1.4 million state government funding over 4 years.
For support contact: RentRight SA on 1800 060 462.