Tenants' Union ACT

To represent the rights of tenants in the ACT and assist tenants to become aware of, and be able to assert their rights. To improve the situation for tenants, in the ACT and in general, in relation to law and policy reform.

We are a community legal centre and part of a national network of community legal centres and tenants unions. We are also part of an international network of tenants unions, through the International Union of tenants.

We provide a free phone advice service for tenants with problems relating to their tenancy. We produce free information about rights and tenancy and housing issues. We lobby government to improve the situation for tenants. We provide community legal education (workshops and presentations) to train tenants and people working with tenants. We participate in forums and events in order to promote tenancy issues. We coordinate annual Tenancy Week activities to promote awareness of tenancy issues. We promote awareness of issues through our website noticeboard and e-mail list.

- Membership of the TU supports the organisation and provides the opportunity to be kept up to date with tenancy issues and materials.
- TU members can join the management committee, providing valuable experience in management and an opportunity to have input into the operation of the organisation.
- Contributions to our newsletter
- Tenant News. We encourage articles, stories, cartoons, comments etc on housing and tenancy issues. Contributions are acknowledged in the publication.

Tenancy issues are about your home, about your privacy, your comfort, your piece of mind. Too many tenants are not aware of their rights and are taken advantage of. This can mean they do not get what they are paying their rent for - not having repairs done, not having maintenance done, having their to privacy breached. It can also mean they feel they have to move out of their home because of threats or invalid notices. Access to information about rights is easy through our website, and advice about specific problems is free through our advice service. Access to information about rights is easy through our website, and advice about specific problems is free through our advice service.

If you believe something about your tenancy seems wrong or unfair, you could be right. We encourage you to ask questions, check for reliable information from independent people, not agents and not landlords. Find out your rights, assert them, don't be taken advantage of.