Consumer and Business Services (CBS) has begun a review of the Residential Tenancies Act, inviting comment from the SA public.
Announcing the review, CBS said it will be the Act’s first extensive revision for a decade and everyone was welcome to have their say.
“South Australians, including tenants, landlords and housing organisations are urged to make their voices heard,” the Agency said.
“Renting with pets, share housing and a crackdown on rent bidding are among issues up for discussion.”
It said consultation had begun with the release of a discussion paper as an important first step.
Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Andrea Michaels said the review was aimed at ensuring the State’s residential tenancies laws were modern, covered relevant issues and worked in the best interests of both tenants and landlords.
In August of this year the Minister convened a forum with stakeholders in the rental sector to discuss current renting issues and to consider how renting laws could be updated to ensure the right balance between the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants.
“As Australia continues to face a widespread rental crisis with lack of stock and affordability issues, it’s been one of my priorities to ensure we have contemporary, effective residential tenancies laws in this State,” Ms Michaels said.
“With cost-of-living pressures putting a real strain on household budgets across the board, now is the right time to look at how the rental property market has evolved, what people expect and how we can make our laws modern and fair for both tenants and landlords,” she said.
CBS said that since the last substantial review of the Act in in 2014, rent prices had increased significantly, new rental bond products had entered the market and there had been a general shift by the public towards more online transactions.
It said the discussion paper and a survey have been prepared for people to take part.
The 11-page Discussion Paper can be accessed at this PS News link.
