Rented, dented and lamented: Aussie tenants waiting on repairs
Australian renters are tapping their feet and waiting longer than they want for their landlord to make repairs, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,014 respondents – 333 who have rented in the last 12 months – found that 44% have had to wait too long for their landlord to fix something in their home.
Water leaks (23%) is the most common issue, followed by broken appliances (17%), mould (16%) and structural defects like broken doors or windows (13%).
Shockingly, of those who faced delays, 17% had to wait more than a year.
A further 11% had to wait between 6-12 months.
Richard Whitten, home loans expert at Finder, said that delayed repairs can be a major source of stress for tenants.
"It's unacceptable that so many people are forced to live with problems like mould and water leaks for months, or even years on end.
"These aren't just minor inconveniences – they can impact a person's health, their wallet, and their peace of mind."
Whitten advised that tenants should take proactive steps to ensure their issues are addressed.
"Knowledge is power. You have a right to a safe and well-maintained home.
"Document all communication with your landlord or agent, send requests in writing, and if you aren't getting a response, know your rights and be prepared to escalate the issue.
"If your landlord isn't fulfilling their legal obligations, consider getting legal advice from your state's tenant's union."
Finder's research shows just over half (56%) of Australian renters said they have not had to wait to get an issue fixed.
Landlords themselves admit that they drag their feet.
A Finder survey of 148 landlords found that 2 in 5 (38%) have had a tenant wait longer than is reasonable for a repair in the last year.
That roughly matches up with the number of renters left waiting.
Landlords cited the same issues that tenants did: water leaks, mould, and broken appliances.
Have you had to wait longer than is reasonable for your landlord to fix something in your home in the last 12 months?
| Yes, water leaks | 23% |
| Yes, broken appliance | 17% |
| Yes, mould | 16% |
| Yes, structural defects (windows, doors etc) | 13% |
| Yes, other | 2% |
| No, none of the above | 56% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,014 respondents, 333 of whom rent, July 2025 |  |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,014 respondents from July 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Sources
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