2020-04-21
The Victorian Greens warn that many tenants facing housing stress will continue to be left behind as a result of the Andrews Government’s omnibus bill to be debated later this week.
While the Greens welcome a ban on evictions, rent increases and blacklisting over the next six months that are now detailed in this legislation, they say many tenants needing a rent reduction will be forced into lengthy negotiations with potentially uncooperative landlords and navigate a complicated and unclear resolution process.
The Government’s bill could see renters having to navigate a complicated system involving up to three different mediation and dispute resolution bodies before they see an outcome.
For those who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 and are struggling to pay for food or rent, the impetus on tenants to initiate a process along with the power imbalance between landlords and tenants will likely hinder rather than improve their situations.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam, said that many out-of-work tenants were in desperate need of rent reductions now, and that the process outlined in the Government’s bill could prolong any meaningful resolution, if one was achieved at all.
She added that many tenants unable to pay their rent during COVID-19 could be saddled with massive debts once the pandemic was over.
The Government must guarantee that no tenants struggling as a result of the pandemic will accrue any debt, and immediately provide a funding boost for Tenants Victoria and other tenancy advice services.
Quotes attributable to Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam MLC:
“Sadly this omnibus bill will continue to leave many vulnerable renters behind by forcing them into complex negotiations with potentially uncooperative landlords.
“It also fails to protect renters from being saddled with massive debts if they aren’t able to pay their rent as a result of COVID-19.
“Renters need certainty that they’re going to be protected and supported throughout this crisis, but we fear many renters will instead feel abandoned and left on their own trying to negotiate rent reductions with the balanced tipped in favour of landlords.”