2020-08-20
A Victorian Greens survey of nearly 700 renters has revealed that many renters who have become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been unable to negotiate a rent reduction or access support schemes.
And more than a third of unemployed respondents are worried they will be evicted once the Victorian Government’s ban on evictions expires at the end of next month.
The Greens’ survey found that:
- Almost half (48%) of all respondents had either become unemployed or had a reduction in hours since the COVID-19 pandemic began
- Over half (57%) of renters who had their hours reduced or became unemployed and sought a rent reduction were unable to reach an agreement with their landlord
- Half (50%) of renters who became unemployed during the pandemic did not apply for a rent relief grant because they found it too difficult
- Over a third (37.5%) of renters who became unemployed are concerned about being evicted after the six month 'no evictions period' expires in September
Victorian Greens acting spokesperson for housing, Sam Hibbins, said the survey made clear the dire situations many renters had found themselves in as well as the need for urgent action by the government.
In response to the alarming survey results, the Greens are calling on the Victorian Government to:
- Extend the current eviction moratorium well into 2021 to prevent Christmas evictions
- Strengthen legislation to prevent landlords unreasonably delaying or refusing to negotiate a rent reduction
- Make rent relief grants easier to access for renters
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens acting spokesperson for housing, Sam Hibbins MP:
“These results show that renters who have been pushed to the edge are not getting the help they need.
“Without stronger legislation and an extension to the evictions moratorium, renters who have become unemployed during the pandemic face a Christmas of housing uncertainty.
“With hundreds of thousands of Victorians forced out of work because of this pandemic, the state government must provide stable, long term support for renters to secure their housing stability.”