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Stage 1 of proposed rental reforms have been announced by the Minister for Housing and Public Works, Mick de Brenni.  The State Government proposals erode and remove many of the rights needed by landlords to effectively manage their rental properties.

The proposed rental reforms are divided into 5 priority areas. Click on these areas below to further read of the Government proposals.

• Minimum Housing Standards
• Renting with pets
• Minor modifications
• Domestic and family violence
• Ending a tenancy fairly.

The most damaging of the reforms is the abolishment of the ‘without grounds terminations or evictions’ clause, which removes a landlord’s right to not renew a tenancy agreement at the end of its agreed term without reason.  This could lead to indefinite leases with a tenant until a landlord can establish a reason prescribed by law.

  
Other proposed reforms that diminish the Property Owners rights include:

• the loss of a landlord’s right to refuse pets;
• the introduction of a tenant right to make modifications to a rental property without the landlord’s consent; and
• the introduction of minimum housing standards requiring the rental property and its inclusions to meet prescribed standards and to be in a certain state of repair.

The following documents and resources were are available from the Department of Housing and Public Works (DHPW) website: 

• Reform Roadmap (2 MB) (pdf) - An outline of the reform process and stages (6 Pages)
• Open Doors to Renting Reform—Consultation report (3.58 MB) (pdf)  - A report on the survey, responses and feedback from last year (137 Pages)
• Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (2.88 MB) (pdf) - Detailed document outlining the various option for change, an analysis of each of the options, the option recommended by the DHPW (171 Pages)
• Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement executive summary (PDF, 1.71 MB), This is a summary version of the Regulatory Impact Statement (37 Pages)

 
The proposed legislation conflicts with the views expressed by POAQ in its submissions.

The DHPW is offering only a six week consultation process with all parties and  wants your feedback on the reform proposals. As a property owner it is important to have you say. We urge all our members to respond. 

 
Feedback can be provided via completing a survey or sending in a submission. Please click on the below link to express your concerns:

 
https://www.yoursayhpw.engagementhq.com/RentingInQLD

 
You will need to sign in. If you had previously responded to the Open Doors feedback in 2018, then your sign in identification will be the same. Otherwise, please click the register button and you will then be allowed to proceed and complete the survey or submission page.

Survey Responses or Submissions close at 5PM AEST on Friday 28 December 2019.

REIQ

www.rentalreforms.com.au

The POAQ have launched a campaign to outline how the proposed rental reforms have the potential to destroy the Queensland property market: "The solution is rental reforms that protect both people and property."

No winners under de Brenni's reckless rental reforms (16 November 2019)

The Minister for Housing and Public Works, Mick de Brenni has announced Stage 1 of proposed rental reforms that would significantly damage Queensland’s rental market and create the most onerous rental laws in the country. More >>>

Minimum Standards

The Government is considering introducing minimum standards to rental properties. No information has been given as to how high the standards will be, how they will be met or measured or and by whom will they be checked or enforced. Introducing them will be costly and onerous on landlords. Include your opposition and your reasons in your submission. The minimum standards include, but may not be limited to:

(a) Sanitation, drainage, cleanliness and repair of the premises and inclusions
(b) ventilation and insulation
(c) protection from damp and its effects
(d) construction ,condition, structures, safety and situation of the premises and inclusions
(e) the dimensions of rooms in the premises
(f) privacy and security
(g) provision of water supply, storage and sanitary facilities
(h) laundry and cooking facilities
(i) lighting
(j) freedom from vermin infestation
(k) energy and water efficiency.

   .

Other things to consider...

It may help your submission to read about what various tenancy groups on the other side are arguing for. Here are some links:

Making Rent Fair in Queensland, a website formed by many groups

Tenants Queensland

Brisbane Renters Alliance