Elise Archer,Minister for Building and Construction
The Tasmanian Government is committed to keeping Tasmanians safe and secure through the challenges faced by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Government has this morning issued a Notice under Section 22 of the COVID-19 Disease (Emergency Provisions) Act 2020 (COVID-19 Act) to prevent residential rental evictions.
This will mean that evictions cannot occur for at least the next 90 days.
The Notice protects residential tenants, particularly those who are experiencing hardship from a loss of income as a result of COVID-19.
These are not changes the Government has made lightly – they are being undertaken because of the widespread impact of COVID-19 on our community.
Equally important is the point I make to tenants that this is not an opportunity to avoid paying rent. If you are able to do so, you should keep payments up.
If tenants cannot pay their rent, they should, in the first instance, talk to their landlord to see if rent is able to be reduced.
There are a number of exemptions to this evictions ban.
They include unlawful use of a property as well as wilful damage and violence.
In addition, notices to vacate due to the sale of a property where that sale contract was signed before the Notice was issued will also be exempt.
The Government has also made changes to limit property inspections and certain repairs from taking place to support social distancing.
A further notice regarding commercial tenancies will be issued in coming days.
For full details, please visit: https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/topics/housing/residential-tenancies-covid-19-emergency-provisions or phone 1300 654 499.
