Why do so few public housing tenants take Housing NSW to the Consumer Trader & Tenancy Tribunal? Earlier this year the then Shadow Minister for Fair Trading, Catherine Cusack (Country Liberal) claimed that of all the applications made in regard to public housing matters, only 4 per cent were made by public housing tenants and a whopping 96 per cent by Housing NSW.
Well, firstly the very thought of going to court is frightening for most people, let alone the elderly and the disabled. Secondly, you need a lawyer or advocate to help you prepare your case and represent you, but such people are extremely difficult to find, even in the ranks of government-funded tenancy services. Thirdly, Housing NSW's own legal department is handling these types of tenancy matters all the time and is the resident expert in this field. Fourthly, if you are on a low income as most public housing tenants are you cannot afford to take your grievances to court.
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