More than half of NSW MPs own more than one property

Amid a fresh push for reform to the rental market, an analysis of MP disclosure records show landlords are disproportionately represented on Macquarie Street.

Of the 93 MPs in the legislative assembly, 54% own more than one property, with more than a quarter listing three or more.

In contrast, just 12% of NSW residents are property investors, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. All lower house MPs own at least one property, either personally or through their spouse.

Australia Institute senior economist Matt Grudnoff said the parliament should be truly representational if it did not want to continue failing renters.

This comes as Greens MP Jenny Leong this week introduced a bill to ban no-grounds evictions in the state.

The bill would stop landlords evicting tenants unless they fit certain criteria including renovating the property, or if close family or friends wanted to live in the property for at least a year.

Labor, which notionally supports an end to no-grounds evictions but is yet to show its hand on the Greens bill, is also under pressure to beef up its own rental policies.

Byrne will call for longer tenancy periods of between five and 10 years, new government oversight of complaints about repairs and maintenance and new rules allowing renters to have pets.

He also wanted the party to consider a tax on empty properties.

The party opposes it in part because it would see investors paying land tax charged at a higher rate than owner-occupiers. According to the shadow treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, that would see rents increase as landlords look to recoup costs.

Leo Patterson-Ross, the head of the NSW Tenants Union, said the rising rents were being driven by a variety of market factors.

Together, 45 Coalition MPs own 82 properties, averaging 1.8 per person. This is slightly higher than the Labor average of 1.7 properties per MP.