Tenants take action after being hit with 70 per cent increase

Harrison Reid says he received a rent increase from $670 a week to $1100 two weeks ago.

“I thought it might have been a joke, maybe,” Reid said. 

“It was immediately anxiety provoking.”

Reid said the increase did not include the repairs of things like broken concrete on the outside, broken kitchen shelves and black mould.

The tenants put up with the issues, believing it would keep their rent lower.

“It took all of about five minutes for everyone to band together and decide we’re all going to push back on this,” he said.

Owner Denis Sinilov bought the building in 2021 for a reported $15 million and has plans to rebuild.

The property is managed by a Double Bay agency and its director Simon Cohen.

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Cohen said in a statement his role was to advise the landlord on whether or not he was receiving rent in line with current market conditions.

“And while such a large increase is not typical, it’s often the result of tenants not receiving regular year-on-year increases,” Cohen said.

The tenants said they had not had a rent increase in four years so they were not opposed to one but called the 70 per cent increase “excessive” and “greedy”.

Tenants’ Union CEO Leo Patterson Ross said it was an extreme example but it was not uncommon.

“We’re hearing from a lot of people facing these 30, 40, 50 per cent rent increases,” Ross said.

Premier Chris Minns has promised to appoint a rental commissioner but has ruled out capping rent increases.

“Primarily because I think it would have a detrimental effect on supply and in the long run, supply is going to be fundamental to fixing the rental and housing crisis in NSW,” Minns said.

The residents of the Tamarama apartment block are taking their case to the tribunal tomorrow.