NSW Premier Chris Minns’ proposal to ban paid background checks on rental applications is a bold and necessary step toward ensuring fairness and affordability in the rental market. If you’ve recently tried to secure a rental, you’re likely familiar with real estate agencies pushing paid background checks, often marketed with the promise of improving your chances of approval. These checks, typically costing around $30, are not essential and serve as a financial burden for prospective tenants. The suspicion that real estate agencies receive kickbacks from these checks only adds to the concern. The rental market is already challenging enough without the...