The Greens have announced their election policy to establish a National Renters Protection Authority that will enforce national tenancy standards and the Greens proposed rent freeze and ongoing caps. The NRPA would have the power to independently investigate and fine landlords and real estate agents, as well as referring serious offenders for prosecution by states and territories.
Under the Greens plan to establish the NRPA, costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office at $200 million per year on average, the Authority will have 1000 staff in a range of locations nationwide, allowing them to investigate rental breaches as well as offering advocacy, advice and education to renters all around the country.
The NRPA will be able to issue on-the-spot infringement notices of up to $3,756 to individuals (12 Commonwealth penalty units), or $18,780 (60 penalty units) to real estate agencies. Serious or repeat offenders could be fined up to $15,650 (50 penalty units) for individual landlords or $78,250 (50 penalty units) for agencies, subject to sanctions such as removing a real estate agents' licence to practise or referred for prosecution by states and territories.
The NRPA is part of the Greens broader plan to coordinate national tenancy standards by distributing $2.5 billion a year (indexed) to the states and territories in exchange for introducing model tenancy standards including:
- a 2 year freeze on rent increases,
- ongoing 2% cap on rent increases,
- right to guaranteed lease renewal
- access to 5 year leases, and
- nationwide minimum standards covering ventilation, heating, cooling and insulation.
The NRPA would help to enforce these new standards, while the $2.5 billion a year would in part go toward bolstering state and territory respective tribunals dealing with tenancy disputes.
Along with proactive investigations targeted at compliance with new rent caps, rights to lease renewal and minimum standards, the NRPA would be the first port of call for renters nationwide facing unfair rent hikes, retaliatory evictions, unfair bond claims, landlords who won't make essential repairs or a notice to leave without reason.
Right now around most of Australia there's zero protection against unlimited rent increases and nothing to stop renters being forced to move without warning every year, and there's nothing in Labor's weak patchwork of 'Better Deal for Renters' that will change this.
The states can't even agree that every renter deserves a working kitchen, electricity supply, heating or cooling or a house free from mould. According to a new report released this week, a year on from Labor's Better Deal announcement, renters around the country remain vulnerable, with National Cabinet reforms falling short in protecting tenants. National Shelter's Emma Greenhalgh called on the Commonwealth to play a leadership role in coordinating national rental reform, saying that "states and territories have not done enough to strengthen renters' rights amid the unprecedented housing crisis".
As stated by Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP:
"For too long renters have been treated like second-class citizens by both Labor and the Liberals.
"Unlimited rent increases should be illegal. Unliveable rentals should be illegal. That's what a National Renters Protection Authority would achieve.
"Labor and the Liberals think they can tinker around the edges with a fundamentally broken housing system but renters will punish them at the ballot box."
As stated by Max Chandler-Mather, MP for Griffith, Greens spokesperson for housing and homelessness:
"Across this country, there are 7 million renters who are powerless in their own home, unable to push back against unfair rent hikes, dodgy agents and landlords who never do basic repairs.
"In a system stacked against renters, The National Renters Protection Authority will fight to protect every renters' right to a secure and affordable home.
"Any renter will be able to tell you about the terrible anxiety that comes when a landlord or real estate breaks the rules and the NRPA is about ensuring every renter has someone to call when that happens.
"Australia is one of the worst places in the world to be a renter, we desperately need a national body with teeth to fight in their corner and enforce stronger renters rights across the country.
"Governments treat renters' rights like an opt-in scheme for property investors but the Greens are fighting for legal enforcement of minimum standards and limits on rent increases.
"What's the point of minimum standards for renters if there's nobody to call when the landlord or real estate breaks the rules?
"There will be no more pleading with the landlord to send a plumber, fix the heater or send an electrician - it's your right to have a liveable rental home, and the Greens will make that a reality.
"Over the next 10 years Labor will give property investors $176 billion in tax handouts while millions of renters get screwed."
