Response to Discussion Paper Review of the Residential Tenancies Act nineteen ninety-five
In summary, REISA's position on each of the proposed reforms is outlined below:
Rooming Houses and Shared Accommodation
Housing standards and retaliatory evictions
Safety modifications and minor changes
Start of tenancy requirements
Domestic violence provisions
Modernisation of Language
Additional Recommendations
Item one - Longer tenancies - Removal of no grounds evictions
Potential consequences of the proposed reform include:
Prescribed reasons for a fixed term lease
Prescribed reasons for a periodic lease
Item one - Longer tenancies - Minimum notice period.
Item one - Longer tenancies - Caveats.
Item two - Residential Bonds - Mandatory registration with RBO.
Item two - Residential Bonds - Threshold.
Item Three - Rent Bidding - Rental auctions and soliciting offers above advertised price
Item Three - Rent Bidding - Advertising rent at a price range
Item Four - Rooming houses and shared accommodation - Definition
Item Four - Rooming houses and shared accommodation - Registration scheme
Item Five - Renting with Pets
Strata Titles Act nineteen eighty-eight
Summary of current legislation
The need for pet reform in rental properties
REISA's Query Connect service
Animal welfare organisations
Domestic violence shelters and service providers
Options for possible reforms
Pet Application and Agreement
Education sessions on pet ownership with Consumer and Business Services
Change of strata and community titles legislation
A tenant in a body corporate should not have to seek the approval of the body corporate
Item five - Renting with Pets - Pet Bond
Consequences of mandatory tenant pet ownership
Item Six - Housing standards and retaliatory evictions
Item Six - Housing standards and retaliatory evictions - Minimum energy efficiency standards
Item Seven - Safety modifications and minor changes
Safety, health, accessibility and security modifications
Amenity or Personalisation Modifications
Item Eight - Start of tenancy requirements - Standardised application forms
Item Eight - Start of tenancy requirements - Tenancy databases
Item Nine - Domestic Violence Provisions
Item Ten - Water Billing - Copy of Bill to Tenant
Item ten - Water billing - Water supply fee
Item ten - Water Billing - Excess Water
Item eleven - Illegal drug activity
Item twelve - Third party payments
Item thirteen - Modernisation of Language
Additional Recommendations
Sale of residential premises
Break lease costs on Form two's