Greater certainty paves way for return to rent normality

Published Wednesday, 16 September, 2020 at 03:00 PM

Minister for Housing and Public Works, Minister for Digital Technology and Minister for Sport
The Honourable Mick de Brenni

Several critical protections will stay in place to protect tenants as households continue to recover from the global economic impacts of the virus, Housing Minister Mick de Brenni said today.

These include:

  • Protections for tenants from being listed in a tenancy database for unpaid rent caused by COVID-19 impacts;
  • Tenants experiencing domestic violence being able to end their interest in a tenancy agreement quickly;
  • Limited reletting costs for eligible tenants who end their fixed lease early;
  • Entry restrictions and requirements that support social distancing requirements; and
  • Relaxed repair and maintenance obligations that recognise impacts on lessors while maintaining tenant safety in the rental property.

"These remaining COVID-19 protections for property owners and tenants will remain in place until 31 December 2020.

"The freeze on evictions was important in the residential sector when movement in Queensland was much more restricted," the Minister said.

"Because of our strong health response, we've been able to keep the economy more open and we've already started delivering Queensland's plan for economic recovery.

"This includes supporting businesses because that means supporting jobs.

"As a result, we've seen Queensland's economy fare better than other economies."

The RTA's latest COVID-19 conciliation data shows that tenants and property owners had worked together to resolve 1,677 disputes since April.

The volume of calls to the RTA has significantly reduced since the start of the year.

"Our free conciliation service will continue," the Minister said.

"We've seen 70 per cent of all conciliated tenancy disputes successfully resolved within an average of just over eight days.

"I want to congratulate property owners, managers and tenants for working together at what has been a difficult time for all Queenslanders.

"With the Australian property market expected to continue to change over the next period, we're asking all parties to continue to work together.

"I'd like to thank the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, Tenants Queensland, QShelter, Queensland Council of Social Service, and the Residential Tenancies Authority for their continued dedication to ongoing advocacy for their constituencies, whether they are tenants, property owners or managers."

For more information on assistance from the RTA, please visit rta.qld.gov.au/renting/covid-19-changes, read the Residential Tenancies Practice Guide, or call the RTA's 24/7 COVID hotline on 134 COVID (13 42 68).

The COVID-19 Housing Security Sub Committee, established by the government to monitor and advise on temporary measures during the global pandemic, will continue to observe impacts on the residential tenancies sector and recommend actions to support Queensland households.

ENDS

Media contact: Rosie Gilbert 0466 834 330