Rental reform could give tenants more rights than landlords

Renters could soon have more rights if they get their way after a recent renting reform survey.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland Fraser Coast Zone Chair Damian Raxach is keen to learn the outcome of a recent Queensland renting reform review. Picture: Jodie Callcott

RENTERS could soon have more rights if they get their way after a recent renting reform survey.

The Queensland Government asked tenants, landlords and agents for their views on the current Residential Tenancies and Rooming Act 2008, including questions about lease termination, minimum housing standards and pets.

The Open Doors to Renting Reform ran from September 30 to November 30 and had an overwhelming response from tenants.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland Fraser Coast Chair Damian Raxach said the unbalanced response was due to lethargy in the industry.

"People are happy to sit there and moan about how rubbish everything is, but when you say, 'can you fill out this survey?' there's no interest," Mr Raxach said.

"If all these tenants are out there keyboard warrioring saying 'We want this, we want that, we think it should be this, we think it should be that' - it's only going to get worse.

"There's no representation, or very little representation from agents and landlords."

Mr Raxach said changes to the Act regarding landlords' rights to terminate a tenant's lease agreement without grounds was "frightening" and could deter future investors.

"Your mum-and-dad investors who are sitting at home saying, 'We could probably afford that, we could plan to do that in the next six to 12 months', I would say it would put quite a few of them off."

The survey also asked for views about renting with a pet which Mr Raxach said was an emotive topic.

"Tenants need to get the landlord's consent if they want pets, but there is nothing protecting the landlord from the ramifications of having that pet on the property.

"We have a bond for a human, why wouldn't we have a bond for the pet?

"There was a little bit of disagreement among the agents who responded to me.

"Some said it should be mandatory to allow pets, while others said it should be up to the landlord.

"The REIQ haven't had a position that I'm aware of, but what they want to know is, if pets are allowed in a fairer manner, how's the landlord protected?"

The Open Doors to Renting Reform consultation had more than 130,000 responses, which will be analysed to help identify reform priorities in the future direction of renting laws in Queensland.

For more information, visit yoursayhpw. engagementhq.com/ about-renting-in-qld.