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March 15, 2020
An Urgent Review of Special COVID-19 Protections Needed.
Please read the attached Open Letter to Landlords. https://www.fnre.co/_r/c.cfm?l=1 ... 73588&b=8226478
The REIQ supports the need for tenant protection during COVID-19 however, they are fundamentally opposed to some of the proposed measures. With your help, we are calling on the Palaszczuk Government to amend the following aspects of the special COVID-19 residential property proposals:
Introduce rent deferrals rather than permanent rent waiver rights for tenants. This aligns with the Federal Government model and framework adopted/being adopted in other jurisdictions;
Introduce a minimum income reduction threshold for tenants to meet before they qualify for the protection measures. In New South Wales, a 25% income reduction requirement applies;
Introduce a standard requirement for tenants to substantiate a rent reduction request to allow landlords to make properly informed and fair decisions about rent reductions;
Introduce clear guidelines on property entry requirements, and broaden the range of activities allowed to continue, subject to applicable safety and hygiene protocols;
Remove the proposed break lease right that allows tenants to simply walk away from tenancy agreements with only 1 weeks’ notice notwithstanding that those tenants are afforded all the other protections provided under the Renter Protection Package; and,
Remove the proposed automatic right to a 6-month tenancy agreement extension which in effect introduces a 十二-month moratorium in Queensland with the consequential imposition of permanent rent waivers that would be extended over this additional period.
Now is the time to speak up before Parliament sits on Wednesday, 22 April 2020 to introduce amendments. |
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