News Archives
News posts from 2009
Tenants' Union Submission on Tenancy Databases
Posted on Tuesday, 15 December 2009 | Permalink
The Tenants' Union has recently submitted its response to the model provisions for residential tenancy databases. We call for a prohibition on residential tenancy databases. However, if they are permitted they should be tightly regulated. Click here for our submission.
Residential Tenancy Discussion Paper
Posted on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 | Permalink
The Minister for Corrections and Consumer Protection, Lisa Singh MP, released a discussion paper on the Residential Tenancy Act and issues in the residential tenancy market. The discussion paper explores issues such as security of tenure, rent increases, accommodation standards and dispute resolution and seeks comments and submissions from the public. The purpose of this paper is to give broad direction to the scope of a discussion about issues relating to the Residential Tenancy Act and the role of the Act in the residential tenancy market.
The Minister is calling for submissions that address the questions raised in this paper. The Tenants' Union is preparing a detailed submission and is asking for input in two ways. We ask tenants to a) prepare their own submission addressing the issues canvassed in the discussion paper or b) contact us with suggestions about how the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 can be improved.
Submissions close 1st February 2010
Water and Sewerage Charges
Posted on Tuesday, 27 October 2009 | Permalink
For this financial year (2009/10) and for past financial years, tenants can only be charged for metered water (calculated as a fee per unit of water consumed).
Any fixed charges (eg sewerage service charges, fixed water charges, other charges based on the value of the property) are the responsibility of the landlord.
UPDATE: These arrangements will continue until 30th June 2012
Tenants' Union of Tasmania Inc. Annual General Meeting
Posted on Tuesday, 6 October 2009 | Permalink
The Tenants' Union of Tasmania AGM is to be held 5.30 pm on Tuesday 13th October 2009 at 166 Macquarie St, Hobart. Business to be
Today is International Tenants' Day
Posted on Monday, 5 October 2009 | Permalink
Monday 5th October is International Tenants' Day, a day to highlight the conditions in which tenants conduct their lives. In Tasmania, many tenants live in expensive, substandard housing. Governments and landlords treat tenants as second class citizens, expecting people to live in housing that they would reject. But it doesn't have to be this way. The Tenants' Union of Tasmania calls on local, State and Federal Governments to make housing better, more affordable and very importantly provide more of it.
New Tenants' Union Advertisements
Posted on Monday, 24 August 2009 | Permalink
Made by Tobi Arnbruster, Andrew Harper, Daniel James, Rory Lefroy, Viv Mason, Sarah Hiller and Andy Wilson from RGB Republic. With thanks to Wide Angle Tasmania, New Town High, Edge Radio and the Tasmanian Community Fund.
Our Island, Our Voices
Posted on Tuesday, 11 August 2009 | Permalink
Our Island Our Voices is a new campaign for a fairer Tasmania. It is coordinated by the Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS).
With the State Election in March 2010, Our Island Our Voices is about giving Tasmanians the opportunity to have their say on the issues that are important to them in this election.
Our Island Our Voices is a totally independent community campaign with no allegiances to any political party or candidate in the 2010 State Election.
The Tenants' Union and Our Island Our Voices calls for:
A public and community housing system that increases supply, maintains rents at levels that keep tenants out of hardship, and improves the thermal effi ciency of housing.
Click here to find out more about the Our Island Our Voices campaign.
Latest News
Posted on Monday, 20 July 2009 | Permalink
Home insulation rebate for rental properties
An initiative for landlords and community housing providers that will benefit tenants
As part of the Australian Government’s $42 billion Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan, the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) is operating a program that provides a $1,000 rebate to landlords—including community housing providers – for the installation of ceiling insulation. The program, the Low Emission Assistance Plan for Renters, is for existing rental dwellings only and is not available for dwellings owned by state governments , ie head leased properties.
The program began on 1 July 2009 and continues until 30 June 2011. Community housing providers and landlords can apply for assistance for as many eligible dwellings as they want. Private renters may also apply with the permission of their landlord. This is a great opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of rental properties at a fraction of the cost.
To read more about the program and how to apply, go to:
www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency/insulation/renters/index.html
Rent Hike Holiday
Posted on Friday, 9 January 2009 | Permalink
Press Release January 2009
Rent Increases in this Economic Climate?
Give Tenants a Rent Hike Holiday
The Tenants’ Union of Tasmania calls for landlords to retain rents at current rates, and give tenants a break from the relentless chain of rent increases over the last 5 years.
Sandy Duncanson, Principal Solicitor of the Tenants’ Union said:
‘Rents have been going up at around 10% per year for over 5 years, way beyond increases in household income, particularly for pensioners. Property owners have justified the increases by reference to increases in council rates, land tax, and interest rate rises. Those expenses should have flattened out this year, and interest rates have dropped dramatically, and so if anything, tenants should be given a reduction in rent.’
In 1996 the average rent in Tasmania was $125 per week. In 2001 it was $150 per week. According to statistics kept by the Tenants’ Union the average rent in Tasmania is currently is over $280 per week.
Increases in Council rates and land tax are calculated according to the increase in value of the property, and could only be considered as liabilities in the short-term. Those increases in expenses for the property owner are more than made up by the capital gain of the property. Despite this, the Tenants’ Union has found that landlords often passed these expenses straight on to tenants.
Sandy Duncanson continued:
‘Property values have settled now in Tasmania at an average of $250,000. A mortgage on that property will have fallen 2.5% in the last 3 months, which is a saving to the landlord of around $92 per week. Perhaps landlords should start thinking about passing this saving on to tenants.’
Other States and Territories in Australia regulate the rate at which rent can be increased. Tasmania has the poorest regulation of rent increases, and tenants must make a claim in the Magistrates Court, at enormous cost, if they feel that an increase is unreasonable.
We have created a pro-forma letter for tenants to send to their landlords if they want to voice their objections to a rent increase in this economic climate.
February update: Interest rates fell by another one percent.
© Tenants Union of Tasmania 2009
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