Source:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-16/everything-renters-need-to-know-about-payment-and-evictions/12151188
|
Eviction ban |
Rent increase ban |
|
NSW |
6
months |
No |
|
Vic |
6
months* |
6
months* |
|
Qld |
6
months* |
6
months* |
|
SA |
6
months |
6
months |
|
WA |
6
months* |
6
months* |
|
Tas |
4
months |
For
commercial tenants |
|
ACT |
6
months* |
6
months* |
|
NT |
NA |
NA |
Victoria:
Last Wednesday it was announced a temporary ban on evictions and rent
increases for six months and offered land tax relief for landlords who offered
rent reductions.
With most states only offering cash to landlords (Victoria is offering $420
million in land tax relief for them), the Education State is also offering $80
million in relief payments for renters.
NSW
The $440 million NSW package aims to keep
everyone in place for the next six months. There's a six-month moratorium on
new forced evictions, if the tenant is in rental arrears because they've lost
25 per cent or more of their income due to coronavirus.
Unlike the suggestions for renters to
proactively approach landlords if they're in trouble, the scheme insists that
landlords or the managing agent must begin negotiations with a tenant who is
struggling to make rental payments.
In a sign of the seriousness of the measures,
there's a 60-day stop on new applications to force evictions over rent arrears.
At the end of that time, landlords can recover their property — if they're in
financial hardship — and tenants won't get a 'black mark' against their name.
Queensland:
The Sunshine State's new provisions haven't
been made into law yet, but will be backdated to March 29, like other
jurisdictions. There's an eviction ban for six months, as well as no rent
increases in that time.
Forced negotiation between parties is already
part of Queensland law, and essentially means there can be no arbitrary
evictions. The package offered tax relief for landlords, if they're paying land
tax.
Alone among the states, Queensland has
offered a $500-per-week rental relief payment to bridge the four-week gap until
expanded Centrelink payments will begin.
Tasmania:
The
Apple Isle went out hard in late March,passing the nation's first laws shielding renters from eviction
if they lost their income due to coronavirus.
Tasmanian Parliament has also passed new
legislation that would ban inspections, maintenance and evictions for
non-payment of rent during the crisis, except in emergencies. The laws also
have provisions for either party to end a lease if they are experiencing severe
hardship.
ACT:
Our national capital has measures that link
financial relief to landlords that reduce rents for tenants.
If landlords agree to lower rents by at least
25 per cent, they can get tax relief. Additionally, households that have
experienced a 25 per cent drop in income can defer rates for 12 months.
Emergency legislation passed last week has
cemented some of the changes, such as a ban on evictions for being unable to
pay until at least June 30. Others can be made by the Attorney-General without
the need to recall Parliament.
Tenants' Union ACT spokesperson Deb Pippen
said the initial response was promising, but lacked detail.
"The potential is there, but we just
don't know what's going to happen. Tenants are still being given rent
increases. Just something that says 'No rental increases in this period of
time' would be a start. We don't want people trying to make money out of this
situation," she said.
SA:
If you can't pay the rent, you won't be
evicted in South Australia. Measures passed into law also prevent landlords
from increasing rent, and let tenants use video services like FaceTime or video
or time-stamped photos to replace routine inspections.
Not-for-profit organisation SYC, which helps
people on low incomes who rent, welcomed the changes.
"SYC is pleased that the SA Government
is moving towards these sensible and timely changes," chief executive Paul
Edginton said in a statement. A sign of the crisis has been a 700 per cent
surge in visits to the organisation's website since the the pandemic began.
"The huge spike in enquiries to our
service clearly shows that some of our most vulnerable residential tenants are
very concerned about their housing outlook, particularly those who have been so
severely impacted by recent business closures and job losses," he said.
WA:
West seems best for renters so far, with the
state to introduce a six-month stop on evictions and rent increases, allowing
the extending of fixed-term leases and letting tenants end their tenancy early.
Premier
Mark McGowan said on Tuesdayit was important landlords and tenants negotiated in good faith
towards a "shared beneficial outcome".
The Premier has said he was prepared to amend
the laws, which aren't yet passed, if renters who haven't seen their income
affected by coronavirus stop paying rent.
NT:
Darwin Community Legal Service's Ms Spence
has concerns about the slow pace of the response in the Territory. The Government
has said it is working on measures to create "fairer terms" for new
leases and longer negotiating periods between tenants and landlords.
"But we don't know what this will look
like, we don't know if they are going to consider measures similar to those of
other states … these comments give us no reassurance," she said.
"We have implored that they consider
measures which reflect the Prime Minister's announcement of a moratorium on
evictions and other tenant protections similar to Western Australia's."
Contact jason@realrenta.com if
you need assistance with varying rental payments on your rental ledger.
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Jason Gwerder
Wednesday, 22 April 2020
