Rental laws up for review as government calls for community consultation

SA’s rental laws are set for the most radical overhaul in a decade as the government tackles the housing crisis – and you can have your say.

Renting with pets, share housing and the nasty practice of rent bidding are among issues up for discussion as part of the state government’s review of rental laws.

Consultation has begun on potential changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, marking the start of the most extensive review since 2014.

The government is calling on tenants, landlords and housing organisations to make their voices heard.

“As Australia continues to face a widespread rental crisis with lack of stock and affordability issues, it’s been one of my priorities to ensure we have contemporary, effective residential tenancies laws in this state,” Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels said.

“With cost-of-living pressures putting a real strain on household budgets across the board, now is the right time to look at how the rental property market has evolved, what people expect and how we can make our laws modern and fair for both tenants and landlords,” she said.

Elliot Oakes with his dog Harry and cat, Puddles, in South Plympton. Photo: Morgan Sette.

One tenant that is hoping for more lenient laws when it comes to renting with pets, is pet owner, 27-year-old, Elliot Oakes, who said trying to find a place with his senior dog and cat was close to impossible.

Mr Oakes, along with 13-year-old cat, Puddles and 12-year-old Blue Heeler dog, Harry spent months searching for a rental property before finally getting accepted at South Plympton.

“We applied to maybe 20 places and got knocked back by nearly 15 before we got approved for this place,” Mr Oakes said.

For Mr Oakes who has “nearly 10 years of perfect rental history..is on pretty good money”, he says “there is no reason for me to be knocked back”.

Homes that are listed as pet friendly or pet negotiable, Mr Oakes says landlords, if they receive applications from people who don’t have pets, will favour them so they don’t need to think about “the damage the pets will do to the house”.

“It’s hard to convey over an online application that we’ve got two senior pets that don’t do anything, they just sleep all day and are really well behaved.

“But as soon as a landlord is flicking through 21 applications that they’re getting, they see two pets, they aren’t going to go with it.”

A real estate agent has even told Mr Oakes he would find difficulty due to having Puddles and Harry.

Issues up for discussion include:

■ Renting with pets

■ A crackdown on the practice of rent bidding

■ Maximum bond amount

■ Standardising application forms

■ Whether the minimum notice required for not renewing a fixed-term tenancy agreement should be increased

■ New requirements for rooming houses and share accommodation

■ Housing standards

■ Tenants making safety modifications and minor changes

■ Support for renters experiencing domestic violence

■ Water bills and payment requirements

■ Contaminated properties due to illegal drug activity

Consultation is open until 5pm on Friday, December 16.

To make a submission or take part in the online survey, head here.

Originally published as Rental laws up for review as government calls for community consultation