Plea to keep rent relief snubbed

THE state government is standing firm on the end date for COVID- related protections for renters, following a plea from the community sector for protections to be extended.

A moratorium on rent increases and eviction of tenants for failing to be able to pay rent is due to expire on January 31.

A coalition of community sector organisations is urging the government to follow other jurisdictions by extending the protections until the end of March.

In a letter to Premier Peter Gutwein, the Tenants’ Union of Tasmania, Shelter Tasmania, Anglicare Tasmania and the Tasmanian Council of Social Service said they feared people who had lost their jobs during the COVID- 19 downturn faced eviction. “It will also result in rent increases for tenants who simply cannot afford any rent increase at this time,” the groups said.

The groups also want tenants in financial hardship to be able to reapply for the $ 2000 payment under the Residential Rental Relief Scheme.

Landlords have argued strongly against any further extension to the arrangements halting evictions for rent arrears, saying Tasmanian landlords are collectively owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in arrears.

A spokesman said the state government would consider the matters raised by the groups.

“While we understand that circumstances associated with the pandemic can change very quickly, as seen in other states, we have already stated publicly that it is not our intention to extend the protections beyond January 31 unless circumstances in Tasmania were to change,” he said.

“Our support packages for landlords and tenants have been among the most generous in Australia, and have helped to remove more than 79 per cent of rent arrears from the residential tenancy market.”

While the COVID- related downturn and travel bans had some impact on easing the Hobart rental squeeze, rents remain sky high near the city in response to continued demand.

Three- bedroom homes in Hobart and surrounding suburbs are being advertised for between $ 500 and $ 600 per week.