A Fair Go For Renters

Across South Australia, rents have gone up by whopping 20 per cent over the last 2 years, with average rental prices increasing from $350 to $420 a week. 

In South Australia, recent changes to rental rules prevent landlords from increasing rents within a 12-month period. However, there is no cap on how much rents can be raised.

The Greens will introduce new laws to cap rent increases in line with CPI and restrict them to just once every 2 years.

Many places around the world have rent controls in place including New York, Ireland and Spain.

In South Australia, renters can face a rent increase once a year (or more frequently if negotiated). There is no cap on how much a landlord can increase rent. 

In South Australia, recent changes to rental rules prevent landlords from increasing rents within a 12-month period. However, there is no cap on how much rents can be raised. These changes don’t go far enough.

The Greens will cap rent increases in line with CPI and restrict them to just once every 2 years.

Rent prices are skyrocketing out of control. Right now, South Australian renters are at the mercy of a for-profit rental market where there are no incentives for landlords to keep prices anything but sky high. There’s more that Parliament can do.

Here’s how it will work in practice: 

Example 1: If you rent a room in a share house for $170 per week, your rent could be raised to a maximum of $178 per week, which is an $8 increase, once in a 2-year period (based on CPI from March 2022)

Example 2: If you rent a house or apartment for $400 per week, your rent would be capped at an increase to $420 per week – a $20 increase, once in a 2-year period (based on CPI from March 2022)

Many places around the world have rent controls in place including New York, Ireland and Spain.

We need solutions that improve the safety and quality of rental properties to ensure that renters are looked after in a market that is disproportionately benefitting landlords and property investors. 

Some of these solutions include introducing minimum energy and efficiency standards for rental properties to promote healthy homes all year round.

Renters have been struggling with skyrocketing energy bills, which have been exacerbated by living in homes that aren’t weather-proofed. We’re experiencing the hottest summers on record and cold, wet winters. 

The Greens will:

• Introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for all rental homes to ensure that people are safe and comfortable. 
• Mandate that all rental homes must be fitted with an efficient and functioning heating and cooling, have sufficient insulation, fly screens on external windows and the house must be maintained to prevent draughts. 
• Specify that landlords cannot increase rent while a tenant is in the property to pay for these fixtures.

As a result of South Australia historically low rental vacancy rates in recent years at below 1 per cent, people are ‘rent bidding’ or offering more than the advertised price. 

The Greens want to mandate that landlords and agents cannot accept more than the advertised price. The laws should be amended so that there would be a fine of up to $20,000 if they are caught. 

The current law does not prevent a prospective tenant from putting in an offer higher than the asking price¹.

The changes to the legislation have meant that rents could only be offered at a set price rather than a price range.

^{1. https://www.indaily.com.au/news/2023/02/15/sa-rent-bidding-ban-amid-housing-crisis}

South Australia needs a Commissioner for Rental Tenancies with powers to investigate and penalise infringements on renters’ rights.

This independent authority would be able to provide independent advice to the government and advocate for the rights of renters by listening to the first-hand experiences of renters, advocacy groups and other stakeholders who can advocate for law reform programs and services to improve the renting rights, practices and tenant experiences. Further, it would have powers to investigate and penalise property investors who do not comply with the laws protecting renters.

Between real estate agents and the building industry, renters must advocate for their own needs against for-profit industries that don’t have a specific obligation to renters outside of those required by law. There is a gaping need for an independent authority who has direct access to people with lived experience and can make recommendations for reform based on this evidence. 

In 2023, legislation was passed through South Australian Parliament to assure renters with pets that they would not face discrimination when applying for properties. However these laws did not go far enough to protect people who rent with pets.

According to the RSPCA, one in five animals surrendered is due to their owner being unable to find a rental property that allows them to have pets and for some people, their pets are akin to family.  

Currently, a property owner can ban pets, and the onus is on the tenant to appeal this rule with SACAT. That requires a renter to have the time and resources to go to the tribunal. The Greens propose that the onus is put onto the landlord to ask for an exception for no pets in their property.