Where do the worst tennants in Sydney live? Based on data released for the first time by Fair Trading, it's the renters of a little pocket of the south-west with the postcode 2163: Carramar, Lansdowne and Villawood.
Partly in Canterbury-Bankstown and partly in Liverpool and Fairfield, that particular spot has topped Sydney's rental hall of shame, with a staggering 61 per cent of bond money retained by agents over the April-June quarter in disputes about, or non-payment of, rent.
In Georges Hall 57 per cent of rental bond money was retained.
In third place was more misery for the south-west, with tenants in Cabramatta, Canley Heights, Canley Vale and Lansvale - at postcode 2166 - forfeiting a collective 54 per cent of their bond money.
The data, from the NSW government's secure online lodgement system Rental Bonds Online, which holds more than 800,000 rental bonds, was released on Thursday by the Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean. It's the first time such information has been made publicly available.
"I want to put consumers first and this data does that by allowing open, transparent access to useful rental information," Mr Kean said. "This untouched data can be analysed by individuals trying to decide where to rent or invest, as well as innovators who could use the data to create apps and other programs to help consumers."
To read the full article by Sue Williams go to the Illawarra Mercury
