Home must meet new ‘minimum standards’ under rental reforms

Rental reforms that will introduce minimum housing standards for rental homes have been given the green light to pass parliament.

Rental reforms that will introduce minimum housing standards for residential rental properties have been given the green light to pass the Queensland parliament.

But the parliamentary committee that examined the Bill has also made several recommendations in relation to the proposed laws.

New “minimum housing standards” will be introduced under the legislation, which will include ensuring there are locks on all doors and windows, as well as making sure premises are free of vermin and damp.

The committee has suggested the Department Housing “closely monitor” the implementation of the minimum standards to determine whether “stronger compliance mechanisms” are required.

“This will be important to inform consideration as to whether stronger compliance mechanisms are needed going forward,” the committee’s report said.

The committee has also suggested the Department develop a framework for data collection about how residential tenancies are managed and ended.

They also believe that new measures included in the Bill will make it easier for tenants to rent with their pets.

Under the laws, landlords who ban their tenants from having pets at their home will have to provide a prescribed reason.

Meanwhile, another Bill introduced by the Greens that also proposed a shake up to the state’s rental laws is unlikely to get the go ahead after the committee recommended it not pass the parliament.