Sharon and her partner Dan* had been living in the same rental for 3.5 years, paying rent on time and only requesting ‘essential’ maintenance for fear of rent increases. They then found out that their rental would be leased to new tenants at the end of their fixed term, in error.
With only minimal maintenance being done, the owner then requested to provide their phone number to a contractor who attended the property several times over a number of days. Sharon and Dan grew concerned when they saw the contractor measuring the flooring and fittings. It was then revealed that the tenancy was not being renewed and new tenants were being sought.
They soon began a frantic search to find a new property and knew it would cost a lot more than the $400 a week they signed at the end of 2020. During the time Sharon and Dan lived there, their rent increased twice and they ended up paying $520 per week. Noting that with the new lease on their rental would be 50% more than in 2020 – $600 per week – Sharon and Dan realised that a new tenancy was likely to be expensive as well.
Sharon and Dan were right. They did find a new place, now pay 30% of their disposable income in rent, significantly more than before. They really had no choice than to take the tenancy. The new property is in a quieter area and an additional benefit it is a townhouse where the garden and maintenance of the private courtyard area is included in the price.
Although Sharon and Dan both work, are debt-free, own their cars, they have no credit card debt and no personal loans, with the increase in rent they have to look at reducing their food spending, eating less meat and avoiding take away coffees. Noting their rental will most likely increase at the end of their fixed term they also need to plan and save for this. If the rental situation doesn’t change the rent increase is likely to be higher than CPI (and more than any increase in wages they received) potentially putting them into rental stress.
Unfortunately, renters across Queensland are facing arbitrary evictions and rental prices increasing at over three times the rate of the cost-of-living index, at an average of $114 per week. This is the average rent increase of people contacting the tenancy advice service – QSTARS – in the first quarter of this year.
At Make Renting Fair in Queensland we continue to advocate for:
- The removal of the ‘end of a fixed term’ as a ground to end a tenancy
- Rent rises to be restricted to once per annum at the rate of CPI
- Include minimum standards for energy efficiency, for example standards for ceiling insulation
Queensland renters need these protections to make renting fair and stable.
*Names have been changed for privacy reasons.
The Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service (QSTARS) is a free statewide advice and referral service for Queensland tenants. The QSTARS program is managed by Tenants Queensland and delivered in collaboration with partner organisations across Queensland.