Real Estate Institute of Tasmania urges Tasmanians to keep paying their rent

Tasmanian renters are being urged to stop considering the coronavirus pandemic a “rent holiday”.

THE coronavirus pandemic is not an excuse for tenants to stop paying rent, the state’s real estate institute says.

Real Estate Institute of Tasmania chief executive Mark Berry said it was important to highlight the fact that tenants should continue to pay rent if they can.

“Unfortunately, REIT members are reporting that there are tenants that prior to this crisis were not in employment and have not been made redundant or stood down from employment [and] are using this situation as an opportunity not to pay rent,” he said.

“This may be a misunderstanding of the requirements as the message from the Federal Government has been very confusing and through no fault of their own believe they are not required to do so during this time.

“I say again, this is not a rent holiday.”

CORONAVIRUS Q&A: CHANGES FOR LANDLORDS AND TENANTS

Building and Construction Minister Elise Archer. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

On Friday, the State Government announced under the COVID-19 Disease Act that tenants could not be evicted for at least the next 90 days.

Building and Construction Minister Elise Archer said this was not an opportunity for tenants to stop paying rent.

“If tenants cannot pay their rent, they should, in the first instance, talk to their landlord to see if rent is able to be reduced,” she said.

Ms Archer said there were a number of exemptions, including the unlawful use of a property and wilful damage and violence.

Premier Peter Gutwein on Tuesday said with the provisions in place to assist both tenants and landlords through the pandemic, the two groups needed to work together.

“The most important thing that landlords and tenants can do is come together and have a conversation about how they get through this together,” he said.