Coronavirus: Evictions, rent rises persist in lieu of concrete government measures
Struggling tenants and advocates are crying out for concrete government support on halting evictions and rent rises, saying they can’t “depend on the kindness in their landlords’ hearts”.
Victorian tenants struggling through the COVID-19 crisis are crying out for government support, saying they shouldn’t have to “depend on the kindness in their landlords’ hearts” to keep their homes.
Leading legal service Tenants Victoria has echoed this demand, stating it is receiving about 400 emails and calls every week from fearful renters.
Tenants Victoria chief executive Jennifer Beveridge said these included more than 100 weekly emails from people “concerned about keeping a roof over their heads”, despite Premier Dan Andrews’ announcement last Monday of a six-month moratorium on evictions for tenants in coronavirus-driven financial strife.
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Details about how the freeze will work, when it will apply from and how landlords will be supported are yet to be revealed.
Ms Beveridge said evictions would continue “until we see concrete measures in place”.
“We need Premier Dan Andrews to send out a strong public message that evictions for rent arrears in Victoria should not proceed at this time,” she said.
“Then, we need him to explain the legal process the Victorian Government will use to implement this.”
Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz said the state government would have “more to say … soon” on the evictions moratorium.
“We know this is an incredibly difficult time for renters and landlords, and we’re working hard to get an effective resolution for everyone as quickly as possible,” Ms Kairouz said.
Tenants Victoria is also urging the Victorian Government to freeze rent increases and implement additional protections against eviction for non-financial reasons.
While some white-knight landlords are offering to reduce or suspend rental payments for their vulnerable tenants, Ms Beveridge said two-thirds of the those who had contacted Tenants Victoria “were turned down when seeking rent relief from their real estate agent or landlord”.
“Many have received notifications of rent increases,” Ms Beveridge said.
“There is a growing sense of alarm in the community as people fall further behind in their rent payments.”
An Ormond tenant who asked not to be named told the Herald Sun her landlord had decided to raise her rent, despite her pleading with him not to when her husband became unemployed due to coronavirus.
“I asked if he would even consider a rent reduction (as) now is time for solidarity and understanding. He declined and said the raise would still take place,” she said.
“We have two children, my income has recently been reduced by 30 per cent and my husband, the family’s breadwinner, has just lost his job.
“Raising rents should be banned at this time. I cannot depend on the kindness in my landlord’s heart.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled a nationwide support plan for commercial tenants, which includes rental waivers and deferrals in addition to the evictions moratorium.
But he said residential tenancies were a matter for state and territory governments.
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Originally published as Coronavirus: Evictions, rent rises persist in lieu of concrete government measures