Faith Housing Australia and the NSW Ecumenical Council launch a new initiative encouraging property owners to improve rental affordability and security through practical acts of generosity.
The NSW Ecumenical Council (NSWEC) and Faith Housing Australia (FHA) have joined forces to launch Ethical Landlords, a new initiative encouraging property owners to consider how they can make rental housing more affordable and secure.
Launched today at NSW Parliament House, with NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson delivering opening remarks, Ethical Landlords provides practical information, tools and guidance for property owners who want to make a positive difference through their rental properties.
The initiative comes amid significant financial pressure on renting households, with analysis of the Australian Housing Conditions Dataset 2024 finding that 13.3 per cent of NSW renters surveyed reported typically not having enough money left after paying rent for essential expenses, including food, bills, clothing and transport.
Among renters who considered their rent unaffordable or very unaffordable, more than one in three (36 per cent) reported being unable to meet these essential expenses.
Faith Housing Australia CEO Amanda Bailey said the findings highlighted the consequences of housing costs for everyday household wellbeing.
"Housing affordability isn't just about whether someone can pay their rent. It's about what they have left to live on afterwards," Ms Bailey said.
"When more than one in eight renters surveyed are struggling to afford life's essentials after paying for their home, we need to think differently about the role we can all play in creating a fairer housing system.
"A secure home should be the foundation for a decent life, not something that comes at the expense of food, electricity, transport and other basic necessities."
The findings sit alongside broader evidence of Australia's rental affordability crisis. Anglicare Australia's 2026 Rental Affordability Snapshot found that just 5.5 per cent of NSW rental listings were affordable for a working family of four earning two minimum wages.
Ethical Landlords encourages property owners to explore practical options including offering discounted rent, providing longer tenancies, making improvements that reduce household costs, or working with social enterprise real estate agencies and community housing providers.
Ms Bailey said the initiative was responding to an existing desire among property owners to contribute to addressing the housing crisis.
"We regularly hear from people who own investment properties and want to know how they can use them to make a positive difference," Ms Bailey said.
"There's a genuine willingness to help, but people don't always know what's possible or where to start. Ethical Landlords is about supporting that generosity with practical information, tools and pathways to turn good intentions into action.
"We also hear from landlords who are already offering discounted rent or greater security to their tenants. Some of these landlords will join us at the launch to share their experiences and demonstrate what's possible.
"A rental property is an investment for its owner, but it's also someone's home. For those with the capacity, even a modest change can make a meaningful difference to another household's financial security and wellbeing."
A reduction of just $50 in weekly rent would leave a renting household with an additional $2,600 each year to meet essential expenses or build financial security.
NSW Ecumenical Council President Rev Carmel Sheraton said the initiative reflected the longstanding commitment of faith communities to generosity, justice and care for others.
"Across our faith communities, we see both the hardship caused by housing insecurity and the generosity of people who want to respond," Rev Carmel Sheraton said.
"Our faith traditions remind us that a home is more than a financial asset. It is a place of safety, dignity and belonging.
"Ethical Landlords is an invitation to put our values into practice. It recognises that the resources we hold, including property, create opportunities to care for others and contribute to a more just and compassionate community."
Developed through a partnership between FHA and NSWEC, with support from the Glenburnie Fund, Ethical Landlords draws on principles of fairness, stewardship and shared responsibility.
While particularly relevant to faith communities and their longstanding commitment to social justice, the initiative is open to property owners of all backgrounds.
Rev Carmel Sheraton said she hoped the initiative would encourage people to reflect on how they could use their resources to support others.
"We know that many people want to make a positive contribution, and sometimes what they need is encouragement and a practical starting point," Rev Carmel Sheraton said.
"We hope Ethical Landlords will inspire more people to consider what they can offer, knowing that even a relatively small act of generosity can have a lasting impact on someone's life."
Ms Bailey said the initiative was intended to complement, rather than replace, the systemic reforms required to address Australia's housing crisis.
"We need sustained government investment in social and affordable housing, alongside broader reforms to improve affordability and security across the rental market," Ms Bailey said.
"But we should also recognise the opportunities within the housing we already have.
"No individual landlord can solve the housing crisis, but we shouldn't underestimate the difference that one thoughtful decision can make to a household.
"Ethical Landlords is about recognising that everyone with the capacity to contribute has an opportunity to be part of the solution."
The launch brings together faith leaders, community housing representatives and property owners already providing more affordable and secure rental arrangements.
Property owners can explore practical options and access resources through the Ethical Landlords website.
