News

Following Friday’s National Cabinet and the Prime Minister’s press conference, there’s still no concrete information regarding support for renters. Our best guess is we’ll hear details this weekend (or early next week) about supports for both residential and retail tenancies.

In talking about retail tenancies, the PM said:

“We don’t want businesses so saddled by debts, by rental payments, by other payments that they won’t come through the other side. Landlords will suffer, banks will have to make arrangements with them. Councils may be involved with providing waivers on rates. Land tax relieved for landlords with tenants in a distressed situation. Our intent is to ensure that businesses that through no fault of their own, and an Australian who has lost a job through no fault of their own, is that we support them in the best possible way we can because they’re Australians and it’s the right thing to do. And we want them to surge again, rise again on the other side of this.”

Read more

Protect our communities: no evictions in a health crisis

Along with 70 other organisations and researchers, the Tenants Queensland is calling for Commonwealth, State and Territory governments across Australia to put an immediate stop on evictions during COVID19.

We need to give everyone the breathing space to work out how we will manage this community crisis. We need to share the costs now and during the recovery afterwards.

Things are moving quickly. Please show your support and sign the petiton – which has already gained over 500 signatures in the hours since it was launched.

SIGN THE PETITION

No-one should lose their home during this crisis

The COVID19 pandemic is causing massive human and economic harm. Many workers, especially contractors and casual workers, will suffer from lost incomes. Many will fall into rent arrears and be at risk of eviction. People facing eviction are less able to take actions required to minimise transmission of COVID19, particularly where they become homeless, and will become more vulnerable to illness.

An eviction at this time puts great pressure on families and communities in overcrowded homes, crisis accommodation and people sleeping rough.

 Take action now

We’re asking you to take immediate action to protect our communities and help us stop evictions. Please sign the petition and share it on social media using the hastags #Covid2019Au #NoEvictionsCOVID19

SIGN THE PETITION       SHARE THE PETITION

INFORMATION FOR TENANTS AFFECTED BY COVID-19

COVID19 and renting – what tenants need to know.  You can access a copy of the Tenants Queensland fact sheet by clicking here. 

If you are being affected by the current bushfire emergency, your tenancy may be affected.  This fact sheet is for residential tenancies however most of this information also applies to rooming accommodation such as boarding houses.

For further information for tenants Click this link

Join Tenants Queensland today

Your membership helps ensure a voice for tenants in Queensland. You will also receive regular member news.

You are now able to join and make your payment online.  Click the Join Link to take you to our application page:

 

Tenants Queensland received numerous inquiries from tenants who were given breach notices for having displayed election signage outside their rental premises. Additionally, some tenants have received a request from the lessor to remove the signage and in some instances the lessor/agent had removed the signage without consent.

See our Fact Sheet for information on placing elections signs on rental premises.

Listen to the Minister for Housing (Hon Mick de Brenni), the REIQ and Tenants Queensland discuss tenancy law reform issues with ABC’s Emma Griffith.  Property standards,  rent increases and rent limitations, pets, and property inspections are all covered on Tuesday morning’s FOCUS program.

Listen here

After a 9-week consultation into the current rental laws in Queensland, the Palaszczuk Government has received 130,000 responses… read more here

The launch of Disrupted – 2018 Report by CHOICE, National Shelter and NATO attracted a range of publicity.

Listen and read more through the links below:

Today’s launch of Disrupted- the consumer experience of renting in Australia by Choice, NATO and NShelter emphasises the need for significant modernization of Queensland tenancy laws. The Queensland government’s current review of tenancy law provides the perfect opportunity to get rid of unfair evictions (by requiring a reasonable ground in law for all tenancy terminations); protect against excessive rent increases and make it fairer and easier for tenants to get their bond back. The time is now!  

#rentinoz 

Click here to read the full report.

Are you a renter looking to improve tenancy rights?  Your submissions to government’s Open Doors to Renting Reform close on November 30!! And we’ve just made it easy for you through this link – it will take you 2 minutes!

Simply enter your name, email address and postcode to support the MAKE RENTING FAIR seven point plan.

Alternatively, go to the Open Doors site and make your own submission.

The Governments OPEN DOORS TO RENTAL REFORM continues to seek your feedback on renting.  The current theme – BETTER PROTECTIONS seeks your views on how tenancy legislation could better protect more vulnerable tenants such as those experiencing domestic violence, seniors and people with a disability.  It is also seeking your feedback on tenancy databases.  Have your say here.

Let the government know what you think about ending a tenancy on short notice in situations where there is domestic and family violence by answering the SNAP POLL question here.

 

Don’t forget to support the Make Renting Fair in Queensland Alliance seven point plan for tenancy law reform and follow Make Renting Fair in Qld Facebook and Twitter.