Balance the key to real rent relief
OWNERS in Queensland strata communities are relieved by the State Government’s back down on its proposed rental relief package after a campaign against the measures from the property community.
We supported the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) lobbying against the government’s initial package, which heavily favoured tenants over landlords.
We are pleased the government has reconsidered its initial position and agreed to change the proposed legislation on the COVID-19 rental relief package, which is scheduled to go before State Parliament this week.
The comments by Strata Community Association (Qld) supporting the REIQ’s submission were posted on our Smart Strata online education platform and we were overwhelmed by the response we received from property owners about how unfair they thought the proposed measures were on landlords. Some believed it could have opened the floodgates for mortgage default and unchecked claims.
But the Housing Minister Mick de Brenni has listened to the thousands of complaints the government received via the REIQ public campaign and we believe the changes will achieve a fairer outcome and a way forward.
Archers agreed with the intent of the original package to assist both owners and tenants during the difficult economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the initial package was imbalanced and it was pleasing the REIQ put forward sensible proposals for a fairer and more balanced framework tenant hardship to create equitable protections for both landlords and renters.
These include tenants having to prove financial hardship if seeking rent relief and the government to provide clear guidance to ensure access for essential repairs and maintenance, the sale of a property and virtual inspections.
We await the finer detail and the outcomes from parliament, but the lesson from this is we all need to work together in these challenging times.
No one wants to see tenants thrown out on the streets, but we also don’t want landlords being under massive financial stress. *Entries open 9.00am AEST Monday, 6 April 2020 and close 11.59pm AEST Sunday, 3 May 2020. Australian residents aged 18yrs and over only. Limited to one entry per eligible member. Winner drawn Monday, 4 May 2020 at Nationwide News Pty Ltd, 2 Holt Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010. Winner’s name to be published Monday, 11 May 2020 on +Rewards website. There is 1x $5,000 Fantastic Furniture e-gift card to be won nationally by an eligible +Rewards member from The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier-Mail, The Advertiser, The Mercury, NT News, Geelong Advertiser, Gold Coast Bulletin, Cairns Post, The Weekly Times or Townsville Bulletin. Total prize pool valued at $5,000. Full terms and conditions available at plusrewards.com.au. NSW Permit No. LTPM/19/05201. ACT Permit No. TP 19/04862.