2019-02-20
Ahead of tomorrow’s Residential Tenancies Act debate tomorrow, the ACT Greens have urged the major parties to back a raft of major reforms to improve renter’s rights.
“Tomorrow the Assembly has the best opportunity we’ve had in years to make it easier for renters,” Greens spokesperson for Housing Caroline Le Couteur said today.
“However, the Greens are urging both parties to go even further to secure better rights for renters by backing minimum standards for rental properties, ending unfair evictions and informing renters of non-standard lease terms.”
Minimum standards – a bare minimum request
“No one deserves to live in a mouldy house where the dishwasher floods the kitchen and the front door won’t lock,” Ms Le Couteur said today.
“Greens’ MLA Shane Rattenbury started this work to legislate minimum standards back in 2011. Seven years on, and Canberra renters are still going without adequate minimum standards in their rental properties. This will give tenants a legal right to ensure these bare minimum standards are enforced.”
Ending unfair evictions
"’No cause’ evictions can also make lives harder for Canberra renters,” Ms Le Couteur said today.
“Nobody deserves to be booted out of their house without knowing why, or for simply raising maintenance issues. We know that this can cause renters to remain in unsafe or unfair housing, rather than risk being evicted.
“That’s why we’re calling on both parties to back these important changes to ensure that we’re maximising this opportunity to further improve renter’s rights in the Territory.”
Informing renters of non-standard lease terms
“It’s usually only when a renter has been offered a property and is sitting down to sign a lease that they find out if there are any non-standard terms, or special conditions, attached to the lease agreement. That’s why the Greens introduced an amendment requiring landlords to provide this information to prospective tenants up front. This will avoid tenants applying for a property where there may be special conditions that will not meet their requirements.
“The Greens will keep working to ensure Canberra renters get a better deal,” Ms Le Couteur added.