2026-10-16
On 22 October Jenny Leong MP, NSW Greens Housing spokesperson and Member for Newtown, will introduce rent control legislation to NSW Parliament that would implement a 12-month freeze on rents and then establish a permanent 2% cap on annual rent increases.
The Greens’ Rent Control Bill puts forward an immediate solution to respond to the devastating rental crisis squeezing millions of people across NSW. Since the last state election, the median rent in NSW has gone up 22% and the public and social housing waiting list has increased by 25%. Nearly half of Sydney renters are living in rental stress.
Polling released on 14 October by The Australia Institute indicates super-majority support for government intervention to control rents: 51% of NSW voters support rent caps at inflation or less with another 25% going further to support a temporary rent freeze. Only 15% of NSW voters back the status quo of no limits on rent rises.
When asked by Ms Leong about this polling in Question Time on 15 October, Premier Chris Minns pointed to the Government’s attempts to increase supply by “liberalising the planning laws” which he said “will make a difference over time”, but conceded “there is a broad desire from the public to have regulation around the rental environment, and certainly not above inflation,” and that renters are “leaving our jurisdiction” due to the challenges of the rental market.
The Greens Rent Control Bill will deliver relief to the 2 million renters in NSW in four steps:
· 12-month rent freeze and automatic backpay of any rent increases since 30 June 2026.
· 2% cap on future increases.
· Empowering renters to seek reductions.
· Security of tenure with 2-year fixed terms.
Rent caps will save renters $1000s per year. Government data reveals the median renter protected by a 2% rent cap between 2023-2026 would have saved:
· Sydney LGA: $7,479
· Inner West LGA: $4,555
· Penrith LGA: $4,493
Had the 2% rent caps been in place from 2021 to 2026, the median renter’s annual savings over the next year would be:
· Zetland: $19,378
· Wolli Creek: $15,023
· Harris Park: $9,884
See Media Briefing for further information on rental data, polling and support for rent control, the Rent Control Bill, and savings for renters.
Comments attributable to Jenny Leong, NSW Greens spokesperson for Housing and Homelessness:
“The stress on renters is unbearable and without urgent action this will only get worse.
“Every day the Government fails to act to protect renters from unlimited increases more and more people are being pushed to breaking point.”
“It is totally unacceptable that millions of renters are subjected to the stress of unlimited rent increases while the Government fails to act.”
“It is impossible to ignore the desperation that so many in our communities are feeling as rents continue to rise pushing them further into housing stress, poverty, onto the public and social housing waitlist, and even into homelessness.
“The Greens have done the work drafting this legislation to provide immediate relief and ongoing protection to renters across NSW. All that is needed now if for the Government to listen to the overwhelming majority of people in our state who support rent controls and for Parliament to act.”
“There is no greater way for this Parliament to deliver relief to millions across this state who are struggling more and more every month while the cost of everything including rent goes up faster than wages, and it is a reform that would not cost the Government one cent.”
“When it comes to the profits of property investors or the right of millions of renters to a decent, affordable home – we have to ask Labor, whose side are you on?”
“It took the Government 10 years from when the Greens first introduced a bill to ban no-grounds eviction, to finally pass that reform.How long will the millions of struggling renters struggling with uncontrolled rent increases have to wait for the major parties to get on board this time?
“The Greens know - we need rent controls now.”