RENTING LAWS NEED TO BE MADE FAIR, SAFE AND CERTAIN!
OVER 1.8 MILLION QUEENSLANDERS ARE RENTERS.
IT’S TIME TO MAKE RENTING FAIR.
Make Renting Fair in Queensland is an alliance made up of over 50 supporter organisations.
The campaign is calling on the State Government to make amendments to the proposed new rental reform legislation to ensure that all Queensland families who rent have laws that are fair, safe and certain.
How you can help Make Renting Fair in Queensland.
OUR ASKS
The Queensland government is changing our tenancy laws but the changes don’t go far enough. To support the growing numbers of long term renters – people bringing up their children in their rented home or renting as they grow older – we need laws that bring greater stability and allow renters to make their homes safe and comfortable.
The Make Renting Fair in Queensland campaign is calling on the State Government to improve their proposed new tenancy laws to ensure that all Queensland families who rent have laws that are fair, safe and certain.
NO UNFAIR EVICTIONS
Everyone agrees that families work best when there is stability and security. Improving our tenancy law so that renters can’t be pushed out of their homes without a good reason will support families to build a stable life. The government says their changes will stop tenancies ending without grounds. That’s not really correct. Their current proposals allow tenants to be evicted because of the ‘end of a fixed term’ – effectively the same as the current ‘without grounds’ notices. Tenants will still be subjected to evictions for no good reason. Including ‘end of a fixed term’ as a ground to end a tenancy was not previously recommended by government. Its inclusion now significantly waters down their proposed protections, almost rendering them pointless by providing more reasons for real estate agents to evict renters at no fault.
We support good reasons for the ending of tenancies being included in new legislation but the government must remove the grounds for ‘end of a fixed term’ as a matter of priority.
ALLOW MINOR MODIFICATIONS
Being able to personalise and make safe our physical space contributes significantly to our psychological wellbeing.
The government’s original recommendation to allow tenants to undertake minor health, safety, accessibility and security modifications without prior approval, has been completely removed from the proposed legislation, along with the minor modifications for amenity and personalisation.
We need the government to reinstate proposals which will allow renters to make minor modifications to their home.
INCREASE SAFETY MEASURES FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DFV
Everyone has the right to feel safe and live their life free of violence, abuse or intimidation.
We support the government’s proposals around domestic and family violence. However the ability to install security measures without prior agreement from the lessor is a vital safety protection which should be included. This was in the government’s original recommendations and we want it reinstated.
KEEP PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS TOGETHER
Studies show that having pets increases people’s health, happiness and resilience. While the government has taken some steps to make it easier for renters to keep pets, more needs to be done. The proposed legislation means that renters with pets may be vetted out at application time; and we don’t want to see conditions that mean your average dog or cat must live outside.
The changes to tenancy laws must start with an assumption that renters can keep pets if they choose; require the landlord to seek orders to restrict pets if there is a dispute, and declare any previous pet conditions for the property upfront.
