Monday 23rd January 2017
Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is urging tenants and landlords to provide input into the rules around renting properties.
“The Andrews Labor Government is currently calling for feedback on a range of proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act ” Mr Walsh said.
“Some of these proposals would mean significant changes for landlords and tenants and could also impact the availability of rental housing.
The proposals include
- Facilitating fixed term leases of longer than five years;
- Restricting rental increases to once per year;
- Banning rental bids;
- Introducing minimum health and safety standards for rental properties;
- Improving incentives for landlords to make repairs quickly;
- Introducing a mediation service with powers to make binding decisions;
- Requiring notices to vacate to be accompanied by supporting evidence;
- Requiring tenants to have landlord consent before listing a property on Airbnb or similar sites;
- Allowing tenants who are victims of family violence to challenge notices to vacate if given as a result of conduct by a perpetrator; and
- Banning unreasonable “˜no pets’ clauses in tenancy agreements.
Mr Walsh is urging local people who may be impacted by these changes to make a formal submission to the Review.
“It is very important that those who own rental properties are aware of the proposed changes and have their say ” Mr Walsh said.
For further information and to make a submission visit fairersaferhousing.vic.gov.au/renting.
Submissions close 10 February 2017.
