Feedback into proposed rental reforms released

Australian Greens

Tenants have warmly welcomed the ACT Government’s commitment to remove no cause evictions from residential tenancy agreements, saying it will give them better security of tenure and greater confidence to assert other tenancy rights without fearing eviction.

The ACT Government has released a report on the feedback from renters, tenancy advocates, landlords and real estate agents regarding four proposed reforms to the Residential Tenancy Act 1997:

  • ending no cause evictions;
  • prohibiting rent bidding;
  • minimum standards for rental properties; and
  • freedom to grow own food and to compost.

While there were mixed views from tenants, landlords and real estate agents on the removal of no cause evictions, the majority of respondents agreed that with the removal of no cause evictions, new termination clauses would be needed to support landlords to manage their properties.

“Everyone deserves a safe and secure place to live,” Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said. “Tenants should have the right to turn rental properties from a house into a real home. Property owners should also have the ability to effectively and fairly manage their properties.

“The ACT Government will use the responses and submissions on the proposed four reforms to create a fairer, safer rental system for all Canberrans. As with any reforms in this space, we need to consider the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants.

“Tenants told us about the fear, expense, and uncertainty of receiving a no cause eviction notice and the disruption that it can cause to their lives. They told us that ending no cause evictions will make them feel more secure in their homes.

“The ACT Government has committed to end no cause evictions in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement, but this consultation provided useful feedback on the situations that new tenancy termination clauses or provisions should cover and what notice periods should apply.”

Regarding rent bidding, most respondents, including landlords, agents and tenants, agreed that landlords or agents should be prevented from asking a prospective tenant to pay more than the advertised price for a rental property. However, views on whether tenants should be prevented from offering to pay more than the advertised price for a property were more mixed.

There was also strong overall support for reforms which would make it easier for tenants to grow food at their rental property with 62.5 per cent of the total survey responses either agreeing or strongly agreeing the reforms should go ahead.

The YourSay consultation also sought community views on which minimum standards should be prioritised for implementation, including amenity, safety and security, physical accessibility, and sanitation. Minimum standards for safety and security were identified as highest priority, followed closely by minimum standards for sanitation.

The ACT Government will draft a bill for public exposure and introduce the bill into the ACT Legislative Assembly in late 2022.

The Listening Report on the feedback to the proposed residential tenancy reforms can be found on the ACT Government’s YourSay page.

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