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Tenants' Union ACT

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25.01.2022 Have a read and have your say

24.01.2022 On 25 August there were some changes to tenancy law for ACT renters. We hoped there would detailed community information available from funded services or the Government but there is nothing at this stage. A summary of the key changes are: - Allowing a tenant to terminate a fixed term lease in certain circumstances where the lessor is selling the property - New standard clauses in residential tenancy agreements with conditions for access for purchasers and new tenants.... - Setting requirements for ACAT to be satisfied about before terminating a lease if the tenant has used the premises for an illegal purpose - Requiring a lessor to have made more than 2 applications for termination and possession before ACAT can make orders about payment of future rent - Allowing ACAT to make orders it considers appropriate in residential tenancy matters including declaratory orders - Allowing defects in notices to be corrected if the person receiving the notice would not be in a significantly worse position if the notice or service of the notice was not corrected - Enabling ACAT to suspend an order for a new tenancy agreement arising from family violence and protection orders in certain circumstances for up to three weeks - Clarifying that a referral from Rental Bonds is an application for the resolution of a dispute - Allowing regulations to be made to create minimum standards for rental properties - Repairs to cooling is an urgent repair under the standard residential tenancy terms. See the updated ResidentiaL Tenancies Act for details. We are working to put some information together for you. If you think this is not good enough send an email to the Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay - [email protected] https://www.legislation.act.gov.au//current/PDF/1997-84.PDF

23.01.2022 The share housing experience this year. Throwing share housing into the mix adds complexity for renters because the different types of share housing arrangements are treated differently under tenancy law.. See "Crowded House" on our website for an explanation of the the different types as well as other handy info for living in share housing

21.01.2022 Have you seen the news? The eviction moratorium has been extended to 22 October, and tenants in fixed term tenancies and impacted by COVID-19 are are now able terminate their agreements early without penalty. Still outstanding issues that have not been addressed, but a positive step in the right direction.

21.01.2022 What does the human right to housing actually mean? Who has the obligation to ensure access to adequate housing, and is there a difference between the right t...o housing and the right to the city? Getting back to basics, The Filmmaker Fredrik Gertten peppers The Advocate Leilani Farha with questions about the definition of ‘adequate’ housing. New episode of PUSHBACK Talks. Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1189295/

21.01.2022 Are you interested in sharing your story for National Shelter? See below

21.01.2022 Calling tenants in share houses! We have been contacted by a researcher from the Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. doing a small project about tenant transfers in share-houses. They are trying to pinpoint how policies around bonds could be improved to reduce the risks for share-house tenants. They have a 20-minute survey for people who have experienced tenant transfers in Australia, whether they moved into an existing share-house, ...moved out and had someone take their place, or they stayed in a share-house while others came and went. https://swinuw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dbtIa4vYhPl3XEN

20.01.2022 If you would like an overview, this is a good one

20.01.2022 In recognition of International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, the Aboriginal flag will be raised on City Hill today. The date marks the day of the fir...st meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations. On this day, people from around the world are encouraged to spread the UN’s message on the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples. If you’d like to learn more about International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples visit: https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day. Produced by Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate

17.01.2022 Today TUACT turns 39. We are still here despite the ACT Government deciding that after 25 years ACT renters no longer deserve a specialist stand alone community legal service. We continue as a small volunteer organisation concerned that there is not a strong specialised voice for all people renting in the ACT, focussing on ACT issues. Despite a complete absence of funding, we will continue to work with our tenancy, housing and community colleagues as long as we can. ... We will continue to share information about tenancy and housing issues and be the voice that champions the rights of renters in the ACT. Watch this space

17.01.2022 It is a good start.

16.01.2022 Such good news. We look forward to the consultation and finally security for tenants. Then we need to look at protecting other renters....

16.01.2022 First announcement of policies for renters. Check/ask what the other parties say about renting and tenancy issues. There is much to renting issues than more affordable rental and purchase.

15.01.2022 TU: After Hours

14.01.2022 Will the ACT Government step up and extend, maybe even improve, our protections?

13.01.2022 The ACT Government has some information about its COVID-19 response for renters. Please note that it has not been updated to reflect the extension of measures announced last week. We are working to have updated information on our website that will be back up at the end of next week. Watch this space.

12.01.2022 National Shelter's latest enews is out now! Read about the National Affordable Housing Alliance's letter to government, the National Council meeting, Anti-Poverty Week and more: https://bit.ly/3i8siVb

12.01.2022 See below for a statement from the ACT Government about the ACT eviction moratorium being extended to 22 October. Also COVID-19 affected tenants being able to terminate a fixed term tenancy. The moratorium period for COVID-19 impacted residential tenants has been extended for three months to 22 October 2020. In addition, COVID-19 impacted households will now be able to terminate their fixed-term tenancy agreements early, without penalty. Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay ann...ounced the Residential Tenancies (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Declaration 2020 (No 2) today. In addition to the moratorium on evictions for rental arrears, a COVID-19 impacted household can now terminate their agreement by providing their landlord with three weeks’ notice and evidence that they have been impacted by COVID-19, Mr Ramsay said. In these circumstances, tenants will not be charged a ‘break-lease’ fee or be required to pay additional compensation. However, if they have fallen into rent arrears during the tenancy this money would still be owed as a debt to their landlord. This new measure will provide additional support to COVID-19 impacted tenants by removing the need for them to make an application to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) to terminate their tenancy due to hardship, he said. The Government anticipates making a declaration prior to the upcoming caretaker period, which will further support tenants and landlords. A decision on this will be taken in consultation with any further extension of the current Public Health Emergency. Canberra’s Conflict Resolution Service (CRS) will continue to provide free mediation for residential tenants and landlords who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They can register for mediation via the CRS website, www.crs.org.au. CRS can be contacted by phone on (02) 6189 0590. For more information about these measures and the residential tenancy mediation service provided by CRS, visit: https://www.justice.act.gov.au

11.01.2022 #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #NAIDOC2020

10.01.2022 Canberra Times article about the changes we shared last night

09.01.2022 The extension of moratoriums has not solved the problems because they did not address all of the problems.

09.01.2022 Menzies Centre for Health Governance (The Australian National University) is the latest research body supporting calls for government investment in social housi...ng. Their new report calls for investing in social housing and doubling JobSeeker, you can find out more here: https://bit.ly/2G8ru5c #pandemic #housing #socialhousing

08.01.2022 Looking for people to share their stories

08.01.2022 Care’s CEO, Carmel Franklin, was interviewed by the Canberra Times - read article below. If you are worried about your energy bills, call the service on 1800 007 007 to speak to a financial counsellor or visit www.carefcs.org

07.01.2022 policymakers haven’t planned for the inevitable rise in need for social housing from impoverished older private renters. The present system has glaringly failed to provide housing affordable for more than half of Australia’s low income tenant population. Acting on the mounting economic imbalances caused by the housing crisis could, at the same time, generate a more productive and stable economy.

06.01.2022 New information about bond disputes at ACAT, simple steps outlined for you.

05.01.2022 Imagine... This is what could happen to those big old blocks of public housing. Its about long term thinking and commitment. As they say - It's almost as if treating people with kindness and respect works! Thanks Tenants' Union of NSW #BuildMoreSocialHousing #MakeRentingFair

05.01.2022 if you want to know what is happening to rental housing across the world, and issues we are seeing here, this film is a must see. It is time for changes to protect rights in our homes.

05.01.2022 Build more public housing, remove no cause evictions, strengthen tenancy laws for all renters

04.01.2022 We support any opportunity for renters to share their experience and this will hopefully lead to stronger laws http://bitly.ws/98oH

04.01.2022 IMPORTANT COVID-19 news for Tenants from the ACT Government today - Dear Stakeholder, As you may be aware, on 22 July 2020, the Attorney-General made the Residential Tenancies (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Declaration 2020 (No 2) (the Second Declaration) which extended the moratorium period by a further three months to align with National Cabinet’s decision earlier this year to implement a six-month moratorium on evictions for rental arrears for COVID-19 impacted tenants. Th...Continue reading

03.01.2022 What do you think? Is this a way to better adjust expectations for the service we pay for? Everyone deserves a safe, and stable home no matter what they can aff...ord. But $20,000 or more a year does put into perspective a request for repairs doesn't it? Post reads "I think we need to adjust the language we use regarding cost of rent. Instead of saying "$400 per week," how about "$20,800 PER YEAR 2 bed property that I rent".......... What about $26,000 PER YEAR ($500), $31,200 PER YEAR ($600). I feel gives a better Perspective, Respect and VALUE!" Author's permission to repost has been given.

01.01.2022 Renting during COVID-19? Want to share your experience? Want to go in the draw for a $500 gift card? Housing researchers at @UNSWCityFutures are keen to hear what your experience has been, in particular with rent reduction negotiations. The survey is open to *all renters* - even if you're not renting now but you were renting when the pandemic first started, even if you don't think your housing has been impacted by the pandemic.... See City Futures blog for full details, or go direct to the survey here: unsw.to/covidrent

01.01.2022 Bad news for Queensland renters