Renters and Housing Union
FoundedMay 2020 (2020-05)
HeadquartersMelbourne, Victoria
Location
Key people
Eirene Tsolidis Noyce, Founding Secretary[1]
Websiterahu.org.au

The Renters and Housing Union (RAHU) is a syndicalist tenants union based in Australia.[1][2] RAHU organises for safe and secure housing through self-advocacy, education, and eviction defence.[3] This includes supporting tenants through processes like evictions[4] and bond recovery, with the union recouping $12,000 in members' bond money in a year.[5]

History

The Renters and Housing Union was established in May 2020 as a response to increased housing precarity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][6] The union was formed following a rent strike campaign organised by the Industrial Workers of the World branch in Melbourne.[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, RAHU campaigned for an eviction moratorium that was instated in Victoria for a period of time.[8][9] During the eviction moratorium, temporarily housed homeless people were evicted from hotel accommodation. This was opposed by RAHU.[10]

In the union's first year, members dealt with a total of 84 cases involving 146 claims. Of those cases, $126,775.20 of $139,947.16 in debt was resolved in favour of RAHU members by negotiating rent reductions, debt waivers, preventing rental increases, or claiming bonds.[11]

Membership

RAHU membership includes renters, homeowners and people in insecure housing. Homeowners cannot vote. Landlords, real estate agents, property managers, police officers, bailiffs, and sheriffs are not allowed to join the union.[12]

Positions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, RAHU campaigned for increased rental protections including an eviction moratorium.[13] RAHU advocates for expanding public housing as opposed to social housing.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Szumer, Zacharias (December 2020). "Australian Renters Are Organizing To Fight Evictions, Just Like They Did in the 1930s". Jacobin. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 Gordon, Paddy (3 August 2020). "Why we need a militant renters union". Overland. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  3. ↑ McIntyre, Iain (31 August 2020). "Resources About Australian Housing Justice and Unwaged Rights Campaigns". The Commons Social Change Library. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  4. ↑ Farhart, Claudia (26 March 2021). "A wave of homelessness could be about to hit Australia as rules preventing evictions end". Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  5. ↑ Cook, Henrietta (27 February 2022). "One in three renters lose their bond, but some are fighting back". The Age. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  6. ↑ Tobin, Grace (18 June 2020). "Renters in arrears fear an eviction backlash when government coronavirus protections end". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Yaa, Nana (4 June 2021). "Rent Strike 2020". The New Inquiry. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  8. ↑ Wahlquist, Calla (2 December 2020). "Melbourne renters struggling in lockdown urge government to bring back eviction moratorium". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Matt (23 March 2021). "'Floodgates will open': Fears for renters as eviction bans near end". The New Daily. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  10. ↑ Boseley, Matilda (2 December 2020). "Fears for Melbourne's homeless forced out of Covid hotel accommodation". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "Roofs For Ransom". Renters and Housing Union. August 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Join RAHU". Renters and Housing Union. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  13. ↑ Redman, Elizabeth (2 June 2021). "Renters in casual work during COVID-19 need more help to stay at home in lockdowns, tenant groups warn". Domain. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
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