[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) Urgent Action Needed To Protect Tenants

[Christopher Holley]

Urgent Action Needed To Protect Tenants


NSW Greens MP and spokesperson on Fair Trading and Housing, Sylvia
Hale, has called for the government to take immediate steps to protect
tenants facing eviction as a result of a landlord’s default on a
mortgage.

Responding to a  recently released Department of Fair Trading
discussion paper on reforms to tenancy law Ms Hale said today:

“It appears that there will be an extended delay before tenancy
legislation is presented to parliament, and that will be too late for
many tenants who face eviction without notice when their landlord
defaults on their mortgage,” said Ms Hale.

"The number of mortgage defaults has doubled. With interest rates
continuing to rise, eviction of tenants without notice and through no
fault of their own, will undoubtedly increase,” she said.

While Ms Hale welcomed many of the changes outlined in the discussion
paper, she said that some of the foreshadowed elements may undermine the
rights of tenants.

“The Minister argues that making it easier to evict tenants in
arrears and retaining ‘no grounds’ terminations, will encourage
landlords to invest in the sector. That’s exactly the argument the
Liberals use in relation to WorkChoices - if you make it easier to sack
workers and pay them less, more employment will result! 

“Overseas experience tells us that that argument doesn’t hold
water.”

“There are other ways to encourage investment in rental housing that
do not require tenants being made more vulnerable,” said Ms Hale.

“Consulting on legislation is very worthwhile, but all talk and no
action will result in great hardship in the community. 

“We had a an options paper in 2005 from the Office of Fair Trading
which attracted more than 100 submissions. It’s taken until now for a
66-page report on those submissions to be released. 

”Now the Minister is asking for more submissions on the second
options paper.

“Late 2008 is far too long to wait for legislation - we have a
housing crisis on our hands now.

Further information: Chris Holley (02) 9230 3030 / 0437 779 546