News

It’s time to announce the winner of our “Home to me is” photo competition, which Tenants Queensland launched as part of our International Tenant’s Day celebrations in October.

We’d like to thank all entrants for sharing their beautiful images and loving messages of what makes home to you. The reoccurring theme was that home is a special place, to be shared with family, friends, loved ones (in one case a car) and our pets!

After much deliberation, we’re happy to announce the winner is Sarita Silva. This inspiring photo of feeding the cockatoos and galahs on the back deck won over the judges. It’s sense of serenity highlighted the importance of home being a place where people are secure enough to express themselves and do what makes them happy.

Congratulations Sarita, and thanks once again to all who took the time to send in their snaps. Picking a winner amongst the great photos was no easy task!

Queensland renters!
Please send your photos by the end of the month to enter our competition.

In August the Hon Michael de Brenni MP, introduced the Housing Legislation (Building Better Futures) Amendment Bill 2017 into the Queensland Parliament.   The bill includes detailed amendments to the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003 to increase transparency in the relationships between park owners, staff and home owners and to strengthen consumer protections and provide more security to home owners.

Key changes include:

• improved pre-contractual disclosure processes
• limiting rent increases under the site agreement to one per year, and increase the transparency of market rent review calculations;
• providing a process for in-park dispute resolution before matters are escalated to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).
• prohibiting administrative fees for provision of utilities, including meter reading; and
• prescribing clear, enforceable behaviour and management standards for park owners and home owners; and
• ensuring emergency services and health workers have access to residential parks and emergency management plans are in place.

Tenants Queensland supports the changes being proposed and wants to see the changes become law.  Before the bill can be passed by parliament it must be considered by the Public Works and Utilities Committee.  This parliamentary committee is currently taking submissions from the public until 28 August.  They will report on their findings by 28 September.

TQ encourages you to make a submission to the parliamentary committee to help support the changes and ensure they become law.  Just a few short comments about how you think the changes will impact on residents will help.

You can find out more about the proposed changes and how to make a submission here: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees/committees/TUC/inquiries/current-inquiries/I48HsngBetterFutures

In addition to supporting the proposed changes TQ will be advocating for additional protections for residents of manufactured home parks, in particular introducing a licensing system and standards for operators of park sites.

The condition of rental properties in Queensland can often be very poor – especially those that are ‘affordable’  .  Although the law says properties must be “in good repair” and “fit to live in” it is not always clear what that means.  There are many reasons why tenants might be reluctant to ask an agent for repairs – especially if they have a short lease or are worried about being unfairly evicted.   Often a tenant will not pursue repairs because they don’t want to ‘rock the boat’, resulting in problems being inherited by consecutive tenants.

The state government is proposing to make changes to the Residential Tenancy and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (RTRAA) so that, in the future, rental properties will have to meet defined minimum standards before being listed for rent.  Minimum standards will make it easier for tenants and lessors to know what is expected.

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On Monday the Premier, the Hon Anastasia Palaszczuk announced the government’s 10 year Housing Strategy providing an investment of $1.8B over that time.

The Strategy’s three year Action Plan states that ‘people living in the private rental market will have better consumer protection and housing stability through legislative and policy reforms’. This mean a legislative review of Queensland tenancy laws will take place soon. It is likely to focus on security of tenure and standards in rental properties. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more. Rest assured, we’ll be enthusiastically supporting the Strategy’s aim of developing a more contemporary legislative framework!

Changes to the Manufactured Homes legislation and Retirement Villages, work commenced some years ago are likely to be finalised in the near future.

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The AHURI Homelessness and housing solutions conference is coming to Brisbane, 31st March 2017. At this conference, the Honourable Mick de Brenni (Queensland’s Minister for Housing and Public Works) will outline the key reforms from the upcoming ten-year Queensland housing strategy.

The Minister said the new strategy is aimed at providing a pathway for people into independent accommodation wherever possible, whether that be new affordable housing, the private rental market or home ownership.

Tenants Queensland will be out and about in February and March at upcoming University orientation and market days.

Come along, say “Hi” and get the low down on your rights and responsibilities as renters.

You can catch us at:

• Griffith University – Nathan and Logan Campuses
• Sunshine Coast University

See you there!