The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has created a free conciliation service to assist renters and landlords reach agreement about Coronavirus-related tenancy disputes.
The aim of the Residential Tenancies Mandatory Conciliation Service (RTMCS) is for all sides to reach a fair and achievable solution through informal discussion without resorting to the courts.
General Manager of the RTMCS, Trish Blake said that unlike the courts where a decision was imposed, mandatory conciliation encouraged renters and landlords to work together to come up with arrangements that suited everyone.
“It’s a relaxed environment and gives people the power to choose the outcome in a non-adversarial setting,” Ms Blake said.
“If you are involved in a dispute being conciliated by the service, you must take part in the process. This means you have to at least talk to the Conciliator and be involved in a discussion with your landlord or tenant.”
She said the Conciliator would be flexible to ensure everyone had every reasonable opportunity to participate and have their issues heard.
“Consumer Protection Conciliators are impartial and have extensive experience in dealing with tenancy disputes. If parties to a conciliation do not participate, they may be fined,” Ms Blake said.
The mandatory conciliation scheme complements the introduction of a six-month moratorium on evictions and rent increases.”
She said the emergency residential tenancy laws aimed to provide some certainty during uncertain times for those in private and public housing, residential long-stay parks, as well as boarders and lodgers.
