Housing Legislation Amendment Bill 2021
About the Bill
On 18 June 2021, Hon Leeanne Enoch MP, Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, introduced the Housing Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (Bill) into the Queensland Parliament. The Bill was referred to the Community Support and Services Committee for detailed consideration and report by 6 August 2021.
The Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027 (Housing Strategy) is a 10-year framework which aims to provide all Queenslanders with a better pathway to safe, secure and affordable housing. The explanatory notes state that the objective of the Bill is to deliver key objectives of the Housing Strategy, including:
- Modernisation – a commitment to reviewing and modernising rental laws to better protect tenants and lessors and improve housing stability in the rental market.
- Connections – ensuring that vulnerable community members are supported to sustain tenancies in appropriate and secure housing that facilitates social, economic, and cultural participation.
- Confidence – supporting a fair and responsive housing system through reforms to legislation and regulations that enhance the safety and dignity of all Queenslanders and promote the provision of a range of housing options that meet the diverse needs of Queenslanders.
The Bill aims to achieve its policy objectives by amending the:
- Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Regulation 2009 and Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020 to:
- support tenants and residents to enforce their existing rights by removing the ability for lessors and providers to end tenancies without grounds.
- provide an expanded suite of additional approved reasons for lessors/providers and tenants/residents to end a tenancy
- ensure all Queensland rental properties are safe, secure, and functional by prescribing minimum housing standards and introducing compliance mechanisms to strengthen the ability to enforce these standards
- strengthen rental law protections for people experiencing domestic and family violence, and
- support parties to residential leases reach agreement about renting with pets.
View: Bill
View: Explanatory Notes
View: Statement of Compatibility
View: Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027
View: Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027 Action Plan
Timeline
Report due date: Friday 6 August 2021
More information on the inquiry timeline will be published in due course. Sourced from parliament.qld.gov.au