Peta Stamell shares challenges of renting as ACT set to ban no-cause evictions

One former renter has labelled some prices as “criminal” as the ACT moves to ban no-cause evictions while residents battle a challenging rental market.

Renters have praised the ACT Government's move towards banning no-cause evictions, yet advocates say there is more to be done. Picture: Supplied

The ACT is set to become the first Australian state or territory to ban “no-cause” eviction, but advocates say the move does not go far enough to secure renters‘ rights in a challenging market.

For graphic designer and new mum Peta Stamell the insecure housing she experienced over 12 years renting on and off in Canberra hindered her ability to make long-term plans.

“My decision to have a child was significantly influenced by having bought a house,” she said.

“The idea of having to deal with eviction with children to worry about is the stuff of nightmares.”

“(Housing insecurity) impacts the schools your children can attend, the work you get, your ability to build roots in the local community and whether you bother learning the names of your neighbours.”

Former renter Peta Stamell says insecure housing made it difficult for her to plan for the future. Picture: Supplied

In addition to banning no-cause evictions, the bill, which ACT Attorney General Shane Rattenbury tabled, would prohibit solicited rent bidding and allow tenants to compost and grow food.

“Canberrans should feel like their house is a home where they are safe, secure, and comfortable, and they shouldn’t be evicted without a legitimate reason,” Mr Rattenbury said.

ACT Attorney General and Greens leader Shane Rattenbury has tabled a bill in the ACT Legislative Assembly which would ban no-cause evictions. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

“We continue to experience difficult rental conditions in the ACT, with rising rents, renters struggling to find accommodation and retain that accommodation.

“We have heard over a long period of time that landlords‘ ability to terminate tenancies without cause has a profoundly negative impact on Canberrans renting in the ACT.

“(The bill) will make a significant difference to the lives of Canberra renters to have the security of tenure and to have the confidence to assert their rights.”

Ms Stamell said she saw the bill as a step in the right direction, slowly “chipping away at the unreasonable control landlords have over tenants‘ lives.

Former renter Peta Stamell has described a bill to ban no-cause evictions as a “symbolic step” to help.

“It’s more of a symbolic step rather than a practical one given the extreme ease in which tenants can be chucked out by other means,” she said.

“If we actually want young Australian families to have housing security, we need proper tenant rights.”

But, Ms Stamell added that no-cause evictions were “quite rare” and said landlords used more common avenues to kick out tenants.

“I‘ve never voluntarily ended a lease except for when I bought my place,” Ms Stamwell said.

“Most leases never went for more than a year, and I would be asked to leave inevitably because the landlord or their family would be moving in.”

“There‘s no policing about if a landlord or family member is actually moving into the house, so it’s just easy to do.”

Joel Dignam executive director of Better Renting supports the tabled bill. Picture: Supplied

Better Renting executive director Joel Dignam said the organisation supported the bill.

“No-cause terminations are unjust, and they undermine the other tenants are meant to have under law,” he said.

“They should have been banned years ago. It’s great to see the government taking this action and tightening other protections for renters.”

However, Mr Dignam said some aspects in the bill‘s fine print were “concerning”.

“The exposure draft had new grounds for ending tenancies that would apply only to some types of tenant — we don’t want a two-tier tenancy system,” he said

“They were also considering introducing a new ground that would let a landlord threaten a tenant with eviction just because the landlord found them subjectively intimidatory.

“We hope these regressive changes don’t make it into the final bill.”

Mr Dignam said if the bill is passed, Canberra tenants would have “a little more security in their homes.”

But, he said, renters were facing pressures from rent increases which he said could also force people from their homes.

“A stable home is an affordable home,” Mr Dignam said.

“As well as banning unfair evictions, action to limit rent increases to a reasonable level will make a big difference.”

Ms Stamell said housing costs for Australian families should be front and centre in the cost of living discussion.

“I wouldn’t care so much about inflation on food and petrol if I wasn’t paying crazy amounts of money on housing,” she said.

“The rent people are paying for the s**tholes they have in Canberra is just criminal.”