Tenant bond interest lost to tenant advice services after today!

Without any response from the state government to the TUQ’s request for specific, time-limited funding to represent tenants’ interests in the current tenancy law review, today marks the last day there is funding for any independent tenant advocate in the state.  That means, after today, not one cent of the $34M of the interest generated on tenants’ bonds last year will be applied to any independent tenant advice service or for any tenant advocate to raise tenants’ interests in the current legislative review, which will continue next year.

This is not a sustainable outcome and will only serve to undermine people’s confident in the outcomes of the legislative review and impartiality of the Residential Tenancies Authority.

Tenant advocates have lobbied for tenant/landlord regualtory systems since the mid 1980s when there was no accessible process for a tenant to seek the return of a bond regardless of how the property was left.  Getting a  bond back was often difficult, sometimes impossible until the introduction of the then Rental Bond Act 1989 regulating the process and limited access to independent tenant advice. Continue reading

Another Blow for Queensland Tenants

The following press release was issued today by the Tenants’ Union of Queensland.  You can view it directly on their website by clicking here. 

In another blow, Queensland tenants may be left without a representative voice in the current review of tenancy law. 

The Tenants’ Union of Queensland (TUQ) has been making representations to the Queensland government for specific funding to ensure tenants’ interests are represented as the current review of tenancy law progresses through next year.  However, no response has been received, and the TUQ now fears there will be no independent, specialist tenant voice in these debates.

 The TUQ’s recurrent funding for policy and law reform work finishes at the end of this month, after the Queensland government’s announcement last October to withdraw funding.   Given the review of tenancy laws, the TUQ has pursued specific funding to ensure the interests of tenants are represented.

‘Our organisation has been advising tenants and representing their interests in policy and law reform debates since 1986.  With no specialist voice at the table where reforms are being debated, the risk of unbalanced outcomes is heightened, with tenants being the big losers’, TUQ spokesperson, Ms Penny Carr said.

The Property Owners Association, the Real Estate Institute and housing policy advocates will now be left to debate tenancy law review outcomes without adequate specialist representation for tenants. Continue reading

Rent capping – a reality for Ontario, Canada but a pipe dream for Queensland?

We just want to warn you not to get too excited when you read this – this is not Australia (although we wish it was!), it’s Canada.  This is from a forum called Tenants Help Tenants in Ontario.

2013 Rent Increase Guideline (June 22, 2012 8:30 am)
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing 

Rent increases for the one million tenant households in Ontario cannot exceed 2.5 per cent over the next year, unless a landlord makes a successful application to the Landlord Tenant Board.  Continue reading

What’s your beef?

Don’t forget, if you have a beef with anything in tenancy laws, there is an opportunity to raisie it now. The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is currently consulting on a review of tenancy law .  Whilst there is a discussion paper, you can still raise any issues you think important but you must do so by January 2!!
https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/About-the-RTA/Legislation/Review-of-the-RTRA-Act

New Housing Minister isn’t a landlord

We’ve just looked at the Queensland paliament’s register of interests for new Housing Minister, Tim Mander, member for Everton (in Brisbane).  Unlike Dr Flegg, it doesn’t look like Minister Mander has any investment properties.  The following is what is recorded against his name on the Queensland parliament website. (If you want to look up other’s interests up click here to go to the register)

MANDER, Timothy Leonard (Everton)
11. Interests in real estate [7(2)(g)]
Ferny Grove, 650m2, family home, joint owner with wife

12. Liabilities over $10,000 [7(2)(h)]
Investment loan – Macquarie

13. Debentures, managed funds, or similar investments [7(2)(i)]
100F Managed Fund

14. Savings and investment accounts [7(2)(j)]
Cheque account – Macquarie; cheque account – Bendigo; savings account – NAB; savings account – Credit Union Australia

15. Gifts received valued at over $500 [7(2)(k)]
VIP annual double movie pass – The Arts Centre Gold Coast; honorary members and guest badge July 11-June 12 – Gold Coast Turf Club; Qantas Wallabies v Wales – Australian Rugby Union; Qantas Socceroos v Japan Reception – Football Federation Australia; 2012 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup VIP Function – Ipswich Turf Club; A League Grand Final Roar v Perth – Football Federation Australia; Broncos game – Broncos Football Club; Lions Box Lions v Geelong – Lions Football Club; 2012 State of Original Series Game 2 – Australia Rugby League and Board of NSW Rugby League

16. Sponsored travel or accommodation received [7(2)(l)]
Return flight to Dalby to attend races;

17. The source of any other income over $500 per annum [7(2)(m)]
Managed Fund Return (100F)

18. Other assets over $5,000 [7(2)(n)]
RAV 4 x 2, Private Life Assurance

19. Membership of any political party, trade or professional organisation; or office holder; or financial contributor over $500 per annum [7(2)(o)]
Liberal National Party; Scripture Union Qld; Interserve; World Vision; Priceless Life Centre; Arana Hills Churches of Christ

Tim Mander, member for Everton, announced as the new Qld Housing Minister

Here are some details about Tim Mander from the Queensland parliament website.

Mr Timothy (Tim) Mander
Electorate: Everton
Party:  Liberal National Party (LNP)
Date of Election:  24 March 2012

Electorate Office Address
1st Floor, 510-520 South Pine Road
EVERTON PARK QLD 4053
Phone: (07) 3855 1133
Fax: (07) 3855 1280   Email: [email protected]

Personal
Born Brisbane 9 August 1961. Married, four children. Education – Bachelor of Ministries (BMIN). Prior to election – CEO, Scripture Union QLD; National Rugby League (NRL) Referee; Manager, Australia Post.

Official Awards
Queensland Father of the Year (2005).

Community Interests
Member, Keperra Golf Club; Member, Arana Hills Church of Christ.

World Homelessness Day today!

Today’s World Homelessness Day, aimed at raising awareness about homelessness in our communities. At the pointy end of their work, tenant advocates assist people to avoid homelessness and remain adequately housed.  Where this cannot be achieved, tenant advisors help the tenant to extract themselves from the situation with the least long term impact and so they can re enter the rental market as quickly as possible.

Last week Homelessness Australia sent out a press release which articulated why we should celebrate the Federal government stepping in to fund the Queensland Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services and how our services contribute to lowering rates of homelessness.  Read the article here.

What’s your question to the Minister?

From Queensland Parliament website

Later this month, the Queensland Parliament holds its budget estimates committees hearings. The hearings are held after proposed expenditures in the state budget are referred to portfolio committees (like housing) to examine.On the day of the hearings, both the relevant Minister and the Departmental head must attend and may be asked questions by Members of Parliament.

This year the Housing Minister will appear at a hearing on October 18.  We want to know, if you were a Member of Parliament, what question would you be asking the Minister about his decisions in this year’s budget?

Happy International Tenants’ Day 2012!!

International Union of Tenants

For all you tenants and tenant supporters, Happy International Tenants’ Day (ITD)!!  Celebrated annually on the first Monday in October and coinciding with the UN World Habitat Day, this year’s theme is rental housing, why we like it!

So sit back and read here hereabout why the European based International Union of Tenants thinks that rental housing is so good. .There’s more information on the International Union of Tenants website as www.iut.nu

For those of you helping us celebrate ITD by sending a Notice to Remedy Breach to the Queensland Housing Minister, remember we’re not doing this until tomorrow, Tuesday October 2 due to the public holiday (read our previous post).

Who pays for tenant advice?

Since we posted this picture the first time, the amount of tenant bond money held by the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) has increased. At the end of August, $655.9M of was held.

Last financial year, the RTA expected to make $41M in interest on tenants’ bonds, most of which was used to run the RTA itself.  Only $5M was given to the Department of Housing for the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service program (TAAS), a program aimed specifically at addressing tenants’ needs.  Additional to the bond interest, another $1.4M was added from consolidated revenue, bringing the TAAS program funding to $6.4 in its entirety.

This year, the Housing Minister did not let the RTA fund the TAAS program, even though they wanted to.  Instead, the RTA has now provided $7M in tenants’ bond interest to the Department of Housing for, according to the Minister, the delivery of social housing.  That’s more than the entire TAAS program funding for last year.

Tenants.  Hung out to dry.

Funding diagram

Was the letter from your MP, the Minister and Premier trite?

Dear minister letter image

Please give me some real answers or re establish a tenant advice program!

Did you get a letter or email from the Premier, Housing Minister or you local MP which you thought didn’t address your concerns about tenant advice funding cuts?We’re asking you to write back again challenging some of the trite statements.  And because we know you’re busy, we’ve put together a few dot points which might help you. Click here to see.

RTA to withdraw forms from Australia Post outlets

The Residential Tenancies Authority has started advertising their withdrawal of access to tenancy forms and bond transactions from Australia Post outlets. Access is being withdrawn on the very same day that the entire network of tenant advice services statewide is officially defunded – October 31. From that day, any tenants who don’t have a printer or computer in order to download forms, will have to call the RTA to send them out. Timing is of the essence in most tenancy disputes, some tenants simply won’t have timely access to forms.

Government aims to silence tenants by new axing?

Queensland will have no funded tenant advocate by the end of the year after government cuts seem aimed at silencing tenants.
Funds for the Tenants’ Union of Queensland (TUQ) to engage in  tenancy law and social housing policy debates were been completely cut in last Tuesday’s state budget.   At the same time, the government is launching a review of both tenancy law and social housing entitlements.

In July, the  government provided three months’ notice of funding cessation to the local/regional tenant advice services across the state, and now funding has been withdrawn for all systemic advocacy and representation of tenants’ interests.

The majority of funds for these services come from the interest generated on tenants’ bonds. Continue reading