1. The Tenants’ Union of NSW and the Tenancy Advice & Advocacy Program (TAAP) Network

2. OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING 14 GENERALIST DIRECT SERVICES 4 ABORIGINAL DIRECT SERVICES 4 Resource Services RESIDENTIAL PARKS ABORIGINAL RESOURCE UNIT OLDER PERSONS TENANCY TENANTS UNION  Rental Bond Board Tenants Advice And Advocacy Program (TAAP) Dept of Commerce

3. Role of the TU Legal Support Principal Legal Officer  Overall responsibility for the legal practice  Legal back-up to Tenant Advocates  Manages the Tenants’ Hotline Litigation Solicitor  Research on complex legal casework  Test litigation/ alleviation of hardship Residential Parks Legal Officer  Legal back-up on residential park matters  Test litigation/ alleviation of hardship in residential park matters Aboriginal Legal Officer  Legal back-up on advocates with aboriginal clients  Test litigation/ alleviation of hardship for aboriginal clients

4. Policy Development Policy Officer Policy and law reform projects and media enquiries (public housing, boarders and lodgers, domestic violence in share housing as well as other campaigns relevant to the rights of tenants’ in NSW) Secretariat/ Coordination Executive Officer Finance Admin Admin Assistant Coordinates internal centre management, liaises with government bodies, funders and stakeholders. Organises TAAP network meetings. Resources Resource Development Officer Develops and updates resources including the tenant fact sheets and ensure they are available on the website. Production of Tenant News. Produces resources which are accessible e.g. easy English, other languages Information Technology IT Officer Develops, maintains and supports the TAAP database, website and intranet system. Prepares statistical reports from the TAAP database Training Training Officer Coordination and delivery of training for Tenant Advocates in NSW. Maintain RTO status of the TU

5. Tenancy Advice & Advocacy Services (TAAS)  Advice and information to tenants on their tenancy rights and responsibilities and how to resolve tenancy problems  Advocacy to landlords and real estate agents on behalf of tenants  Assistance to tenants in the preparation of cases and for hearings in the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal (CTTT)  Representation in the CTTT - sometimes including “duty advocacy”.  Referrals to other service providers  Community Education

6. Location of Regional TAAS  Wyong (Central Coast)  Hamilton (Hunter)  Warrawong (Illawarra and South Coast)  Port Macquarie (Mid Coast)  Lismore (Northern Rivers)  Armidale (New England and Western)  Broken Hill (New England and Western)  Dubbo (New England and Western)  Orange (South Western NSW)  Wagga Wagga (South Western NSW)  Queanbeyan (South Western NSW)  Albury (South Western NSW)  Bathurst (South Western NSW)

7. Location of Aboriginal TAAS  Marrickville (Greater Sydney)  Grafton (North and Northwest NSW)  Batemans Bay (Southern NSW)  Eden (outreach, Southern NSW)  Dubbo (Western NSW)

8. Hotline  Funded by the Legal Aid Commission  Purpose of the Hotline is to ONLY provide initial information to tenants about their rights and responsibilities  Mostly staffed by volunteers who are often located within Tenancy Services  The hotline is not located at one particular premises and can be diverted to any phone in NSW

9. Contact points Tenant Renting Services HotlineTAAPOther NGO

10. Summary  TENANTS HOTLINE Information and referral ONLY  TAAS Information, Advice, Casework, Advocacy  TENANTS UNION Legal back-up, Legal Research, Litigation

11. Relevant Legislation   Residential Tenancies Act 1987   Aboriginal Housing Act 1998   Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal Act 2001   Electricity Supply Act 1995   Housing Act 2001   Interpretation Act 1987   Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act 1948   Landlord and Tenant (Rental Bonds) Act 1977   Residential Parks Act 1998   Strata Schemes Management Act 1996