The Queensland State Government has decided to stick to the original deadline for the moratorium on eviction of residential tenants, eliciting mixed reactions from different groups.
According to the announcement, the moratorium, which is applied to residential tenants experiencing an income loss of at least 25% amid the COVID-19 pandemic, will be lifted by the end of the month. Housing Minister Mick de Brenni said Queensland's economy is doing better than other states, making it an ideal way to lift the moratorium.
"Freezing evictions was significant in the residential sector when movement in Queensland was much more limited. With our strong health response, we were able to keep the economy more open and we have already started to put implementing Queensland's plan for economic recovery, "he said.
Despite the lifting of the moratorium, de Brenni said other protections for tenants would continue until the end of the year. These measures include:
Protections for tenants to be listed in a rental database for unpaid rents caused by impacts of COVID-19
Tenants who are victims of domestic violence can quickly end their interest in a rental agreement
Limited relocation costs for eligible tenants who terminate their fixed lease prematurely
Entry restrictions and requirements that support social distancing requirements
Relaxed repair and maintenance obligations that recognize landlord impacts while maintaining tenant safety in the rental property
Penny Carr, CEO of Tenants Queensland, said she was "disappointed" with the state government's decision, adding that it could lead many residential tenants to fear eviction .
Carr asked why the state decided to maintain the moratorium deadline for residential rentals while extending it for commercial evictions. She also said the ruling flies in the face of what other states are doing to protect residential tenants.
“We know of a range of household types – single parents, two-parent families, empty nesters, and singles – all of which are eagerly awaiting the announcement of an extension of the moratorium. Now they are considering anxious and dismal lead to Christmas as they wait for deportation measures to be taken against them, "she said.
While the local Queensland tenant group has expressed concerns about the decision, the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) has welcomed the decision.
Damian Collins, chairman of REIWA, said Queensland is leading the way in emergency rental legislation. He said the state decision indicated a balanced approach to the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic on the economy and the rental market.
"The Queensland government listened to all stakeholders, formed an advisory group, and ultimately introduced fair legislation that provided protection for those who found themselves in real hardship due to COVID-19," a- he declared.
Collins urged the government of Western Australia to follow Queensland in amending the Residential Tenancies Act 2020 (response to COVID-19).
In a recent decision, the government of Western Australia decided to extend the moratorium until March 2021 to help "preserve stability and certainty in the rental market".
Collins said that since this announcement, the REIWA Information Service team has been inundated with calls from landlords and tenants who have been negatively impacted by the government's decision.
"It is clear from the number of calls to the REIWA news service and recent media attention that unfortunately a significant number of West Australians is unnecessarily disadvantaged due to the general decision to extend the legislation, "he said. .
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