Important information regarding the Residential Tenancies Act

David Davis, Member for Southern Metropolitan Region and Shadow Minister for Public Transport, Planning and Equality has issued the following statement regarding the Residential Tenancies Act.

You will be aware that Daniel Andrews proposed major changes to the Residential Tenancies Act during the Northcote bi-election late last year. Almost a year later, he has finally announced that these ‘reforms’ will be debated in Parliament this week. Landlords are very nervous and have been contacting me in droves. 

Labor’s anticipated 130 new reforms are supposed to provide improved safety, security and privacy for tenants. The Liberal Nationals believe any new legislation should be fairly balanced for all parties. However, this Labor government want to shift the balance of power in favour of tenants, too the detriment of mum and dad investors who now face the possibility of having their assets devalued or perhaps destroyed. 

Anticipated changes include giving landlords almost no opportunity to refuse pets in a rented premises, allowing tenants to make “minor” modifications to a house without the landlord’s consent and eroding a landlord’s right to end a tenancy. 

The proposed legislation could create unintended consequences that will negatively impact rental availability and prices, thus creating an unfair and unaffordable rental market in Victoria. This would only add to the housing affordability issues and high cost living all Victorians are already facing. 

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) has created an online petition called “Rentfair is Unfair” –https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScglGiK9MRM1J5M1I9pZesnPi3VoOSP-tBbqYQ385pjbk6lvQ/viewform

Public consultation needs to be inclusive of all stakeholders to ensure everyone is represented fairly. 

The Andrews Labor Government has ignored property owners yet again. 

Yours sincerely, 

David Davis MP
Member for Southern Metropolitan Region
Shadow Minister for Public Transport, Planning and Equality