Greens propose rental authority to fine ‘dodgy’ landlords and real estate agencies for breaches

Dodgy landlords and real estate agencies who breach rental rules would be fined up to $78,250 on the spot under a Greens election pledge as the party seeks to challenge Labor’s record on housing.

Dodgy landlords and real estate agencies who breach rental rules would be fined up to $78,250 on the spot under a Greens election pledge as the party seeks to challenge Labor’s record on housing.

The Greens will on Monday announce their plan to establish a National Renters Protection Authority that would enforce national tenancy standards, as well as a proposed two-year rental freeze and cap on future increases.

The NRPA would have the power to independently investigate and fine landlords and real estate agents, as well as referring serious offenders for prosecution by states and territories.

It would cost about $200 million a year to run the authority with about 1000 staff around the country investigating rental breaches and offering other support to renters, based on Parliamentary Budget Office analysis produced for the Greens.

Under the Greens’ plan, NRPA will be able to issue on-the-spot infringement notices of up to $3,756 to individuals, or $18,780 to real estate agencies, while serious or repeat offenders could be fined up to $15,650 for individual landlords or $78,250 for agencies.

Greens housing and homelessness spokesman Max Chandler-Mather says renters need a national authority to turn to when landlords and real estate agents break rules. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Greens housing and homelessness spokesman Max Chandler-Mather said the system was “stacked against renters” and a new national authority would be able to fight to protect their right to a “secure and affordable home”.

“Across this country, there are seven million renters who are powerless in their own home, unable to push back against unfair rent hikes, dodgy agents and landlords who never do basic repairs,” he said.

The Greens also want a two year freeze on rents followed by a two per cent annual cap on increases. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

Mr Chandler-Mather said Australia was one of the “worst places in the world to be a renter” and under the Greens plan there would be “no more pleading with the landlord” for repairs or other problems.

“Governments treat renters’ rights like an opt-in scheme for property investors, but the Greens are fighting for legal enforcement of minimum standards and limits on rent increases,” he said.

The Greens’ suite of housing policies also includes short-term holiday rental reforms, but this was on Sunday criticised by the Coalition as merely “tinkering” at the edges of the broader issue in Australia.

Coalition assistant housing spokesman Andrew Bragg says getting more homes built is the key to addressing the crisis in Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Opposition assistant housing spokesman Andrew Bragg said the “key” was building the houses so that first-home buyers could actually get into them.

“Because there’s been such a constraint in the supply side of the market, it has been almost impossible for first homebuyers to bridge that deposit cliff, so that’s why we’re looking at ways to tilt the scale,” he said.

Labor has set a target of building 1.2 million homes over five years, with Housing and Homelessness Minister Clare O’Neil last week revealing she would look to work directly with states to pursue the “ambitious” goal, rather than deal with the “hyper-political” federal parliament.