Premier announces residential rent freeze until at least June 30

A further safeguard for residential tenants has been introduced — but the Premier has warned the emergency measure is “not a passport not to pay rent.”

RESIDENTIAL rent increases have been frozen until the end of June, Premier Peter Gutwein said, adding further protection for tenants on top of an existing ban on evictions.

It comes in addition to a ban on rent rises for commercial tenants.

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Mr Gutwein said the orders, in force until June 30, would be extended if circumstances required.

“This will mean that rent increases through that period can’t occur,” he said.

“The orders will be reviewed prior to June 30 and will be extended in line with the emergency period, if required, at that time.

“I want to again remind all tenants, both commercial and residential, that rents should be paid unless your financial circumstances have been severely impacted by COVID-19. This is not a passport not to pay rent.”

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor welcomed the move, which her party has been pushing for.

“Parliament unanimously accepted a Greens’ amendment to the COVID-19 emergency legislation, giving the government the power to stop evictions and freeze rent increases for residential tenants,” she said.

“We’ve been pushing hard to secure these protections, and are pleased the Premier is enacting the rent freeze provision today.

“While we know most landlords are doing the right thing, unfortunately we’ve already heard from tenants who’ve been threatened with rent increases. Today’s announcement will make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Cassy O'Connor in parliament. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Labor leader Rebecca White said she was surprised at the length of time the government had taken to introduce the residential rent freeze, and called for it to be backdated.

“When the parliament in its last week passed emergency legislation that gave government the ability to put a pause on rent increases during this time, we were very surprised that they didn’t give effect to that immediately,” she said.

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“We’d be hoping to see the government’s details around that, to ensure that it can be backdated if people have been asked to come up with rent increases during this pandemic, just the same way as the evictions were backdated to protect people from facing homelessness.”