The Justice and Community Safety Directorate is calling for feedback on proposed reforms to create a fairer and safer residential rental system.
Attorney-General, Shane Rattenbury said the Directorate’s Consultation Paper Ending no cause evictions and other measures proposed an end to no cause evictions; restrictions on rent bidding; clear minimum standards for rent bidding; as well as allowing tenants to grow food and to compost.
“Currently, landlords can evict a tenant on a month-to-month lease with six months’ notice without cause,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“Removing no cause terminations will give tenants certainty their tenancy can only be ended for a proper reason, as well as giving them greater confidence that they will be able to assert their rights under the agreement without fear that this may lead to their eviction,” he said.
“This will create security of tenure for renters and stop retaliatory evictions.”
Mr Rattenbury said there was currently no legislation to prevent a landlord or agent telling a prospective tenant that someone else had made a better offer on a property and asking them if they wanted to outbid that person.
The Attorney-General said this could be particularly problematic in the tight housing market as it increased rents.
“It is also not transparent and can waste potential renters’ time,” he said.
“While there has not been obvious evidence of this practice occurring regularly in the ACT, we want to hear from Canberrans about why and if rent bidding needs to be regulated.”
Mr Rattenbury said the Directorate also wanted to hear from Canberrans about any minimum property standards they believed should be introduced and whether renters’ rights should be strengthened to allow them to create vegetable gardens and composts.
The Directorate’s 35-page Consultation Paper, including information on how to have a say, can be accessed at this PS News link.
