Consumer Protection is concerned over numerous reports of sub-standard rental properties being leased to tenants.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Gary Newcombe said there had been 188 complaints and 2,246 enquiries relating to repair and maintenance issues, while in 2020 there were a total of 130 complaints and 2,755 enquiries.
Mr Newcombe said a few landlords were exploiting tenants in the current tight rental market.
“It’s the landlord’s responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment in their rental properties and to attend to any maintenance and repair issues promptly,” he said.
“To rent out a property that is sub-standard is a serious dereliction of those responsibilities.
“It is important that a reasonable budget for maintenance and repairs be allocated to bring the property up to what would be regarded as at least a minimum standard.”
Mr Newcombe said in the worst cases, the Local Council could deem the property to be uninhabitable, meaning it could not be rented out or sold until improvements were made — or it could even be demolished.
“I am also alarmed at reports that some landlords, their relatives or friends, may be carrying out their own repairs that require the expertise of a qualified and licensed tradesperson, such as plumbing and electrical work,” he said.
“It‘s also important to note that, by law, the installation, maintenance and replacement of smoke alarms remains the responsibility of the property owner, not the tenants.”
The Commissioner said due to the low rental vacancy rate, tenants might feel trapped because they feared they would not easily find another home to rent or be able to afford the cost of moving.
“Tenants in these situations are reminded they can breach the landlord for failing to carry out urgent or essential repairs and, if the matter goes to court, tenants may be released from their rental contract obligations and even be awarded compensation,” Mr Newcombe said.
