Sophia Maalsen, Peta Wolifson, Dallas Rogers, Jacqueline Nelson and Caitlin Buckle, researchers from The University of Sydney, examine discrimination across age, gender, race and indigeneity in existing policy, law and practice in Australia’s private rental sector, including the impact of informal tenancies and the increasing role of digital technologies. They find there is a growing number of informal and shared tenancies, increasing the potential for discrimination. Informal tenants have few renter’s rights and those in share-housing can also face discrimination by other tenants, including via little-regulated digital technologies. They also examine the role of digital housing technologies in mediating discrimination across the rental system. At present, this reflects the power imbalance between landlords and tenants, however international examples show it can be used to support tenants.
Maalsen, S., Wolifson, P., Rogers, D., Nelson, J. and Buckle, C (2021) Understanding discrimination effects in private rental housing, AHURI Final Report No. 363, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, Melbourne, https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/363, doi:10.18408/ahuri 7324501.