NSW government shelves controversial ‘secret rent bidding’ ban after warnings of price increases

Chris Minns says dropping the proposal will make it easier to pass other changes through parliament

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Reforms that experts warned would have created “rental auctions” and driven rents up have been shelved by the New South Wales government as it seeks to push through legislation it hopes will ease the state’s housing crisis.

Labor’s plan to end “secret” rent bidding was panned by tenants’ advocates, homelessness groups and real estate agents when it was introduced to parliament in May, prompting a rethink and redraft of the legislation.

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