Opinion By Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke
Over a third of Queensland households rent their home, and many of them expect to rent long term.
What’s more, regional areas like Rockhampton, Gracemere and Yeppoon have had a huge wave of interstate and inter-region migration in the last few years.
I can’t blame them – it’s a great place to live.
But we all know that this, combined with the Reserve Bank’s interest rate changes, has driven up rents across Queensland, and across the country.
It’s reflected in the data – with the Residential Tenancies Authority recently advising that in 2022 the number of Queensland tenancy agreements that saw more than one increase in a 12 month period was over 24,000.
That’s why I was proud to be part of our most recent changes to rental laws in Queensland: immediate action to stabilise rents in the private market by limiting rental increases to once per year.
The majority of landlords do the right thing, and this action is only about protecting local renters from the small group of landlords who aren’t operating fairly.
It’s also about relieving cost of living pressures.
Overall, I believe that this is a balanced measure that will maintain rental property owner confidence, while helping local renters.
It will support renters in Central Queensland immediately.
And it’s a fair and balanced measure which is bringing Queensland into line with other Australian jurisdictions, and was recommended by our Government’s Housing Roundtable.
Alongside this change, we’ve also worked on a whole suite of reforms that will protect renters’ privacy, allow longer term tenants to make small changes and modifications to their home, and protect them from unfair evictions.
Stage 1 of these reforms are already in place: protecting local renters from without grounds evictions, putting in place minimum housing standards for their properties, and making it easier for them to have a pet, if they want to.
Now, Stage 2 of the reforms is out for community consultation.
One part of stage 2 that I’m particularly proud of is the proposed changes to the rental bonds process.
It’s about ensuring that when a tenancy ends, all parties are transparent and accountable when claims for bond are being made.
To me, this makes sure that our laws are protecting both the landlord’s need to safeguard their investment, and the tenant’s interest in recovering their bond.
There’s also a suite of changes that will ensure all extra fees and charges are fair and reasonable, protect a tenant’s ability to make small safety and accessibility changes to their home, and help tenants and landlords negotiate about minor personalisation changes.
I’m really proud of the balance we’ve struck with these changes. They’re recognising landlords’ contribution to the community in providing housing, while protecting tenants’ right to live comfortably and safely in that housing.
Now, it’s time for the community to have their say.
Consultation will be open on these changes until the 29th May – so whether you’re a local renter or landlord, I encourage you to have your say at the Communities and Housing website, here: