Delay of controversial renters’ pet laws welcomed by real estate industry

THE Territory’s leading authority in real estate has applauded the NT Government’s decision to defer controversial changes to the Residential Tenancies Act.

RSPCA volunteer Maddie Harold with pups up for adoption. The RSPCA has been campaigning for changes to the Residential Tenancies Act. Picture: Che Chorley

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THE Territory’s leading authority in real estate has applauded the NT Government’s decision to defer controversial changes to the Residential Tenancies Act.

The changes passed in February, which included a clause that presumes tenants have a right to keep a pet by providing written notice to a landlord, have been delayed to make new changes in line with local and national responses to COVID-19.

Real Estate Institute of the Northern Territory chief executive Quentin Kilian said it was an appropriate decision, which he hoped would lead to more beneficial changes for the Territory.

“It gives the government a chance to throw out that stupid pet clause they made and revert back to a sensible decision,” he said.

“At the same time it also allows us to look at what other states and territories have done in their legislation, and see if there’s some good parts from them and also avoid all of the bad parts they’ve put into place and therefore have something that’s a real bespoke approach for the Northern Territory.”

The legislative amendments include creating longer negotiation periods between tenants and landlords and creating fairer terms for new leases for demonstrated hardship due to COVID-19.

“Parliament is going to sit again next week and we’ll see legislation hopefully pass next week that will give us some guidelines on residential tenancy issues within this COVID environment and we’ll see whether, in that point in time, they have the good common sense to rid themselves of legislation that was incorrectly put together,” Mr Kilian said.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro agreed the pet legislative change should be scrapped.

“Just delaying the controversial pet law changes isn’t good enough,” she said.

“The Government should repeal the legislative changes altogether.

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“These changes clearly infringe on the property rights of Territorians who have worked hard to purchase an investment property and want to maintain it.”