Author Archives: Lead Organiser

Who pays for tenant advice?

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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

The irony of leases forced to be broken

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Community Law Australia is a campaign by a coalition of community legal centre bodies led by the National Association of Community Legal Centres.   

Today they issued a press release outlining their concerns with the lose of access to justice for tenants through the decision by the Queensland government to cut funding to the tenant advice services.

Click here to read the media release.

 

Goodbye advocates for caravan & mobile home parks residents

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So the reality of the Minister’s decision to cut funding to tenant advice and advocacy services is coming to fruition.  WIth most funding being cut at the end of October, two services, the Caravan and Mobile Home Residents Association (CAMRA) and the Sunshine Coast TAAS only have funding until the end of September.

Whilst the Sunshine Coast service is scouting for options to continue in some form, CAMRA held a farewell after deciding at a recent meeting to disband.  We hope to get a piece on this site from CAMRA soon outlining their trials and triumphs.  But for now, here’s some pictures of the front of their office.

After 20 years of working with residents in caravan and mobile home parks, there will be no specialist advocacy service for those renters.  CAMRA was instrumental in the then government’s decision to buy Monte Carlo, a caravan park in Cannon Hill, Brisbane, to save it from redevelopment.  That’s the same park the government has now said they will sell.  See the pictures below.  Continue reading →

Getting rid of anti-social or introducing discrimination?

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The Minister for Housing today discussed introducing a ‘three strikes and your out’ policy for public housing tenants.  Read the media article here.  Is this a good idea?

The  Minister’s comments, suggesting greater support for public housing tenants, are welcomed.  However, it’s hard not to be cynical about what the change might really mean in the face of cutting funds to every tenant advocate in the state, including those engaged in housing policy and law reform.  Who will be at the table to ensure the changes really are targeted at the ‘worst of the worst’ as the Minister says? And who will help tenants to defend claims they think are unreasonable? Continue reading →

International Tenants’ Day – 1st Monday in October

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The first Monday in October is International Tenants’ Day.  The theme this year is Rental Housing – why we like it!   Whilst will be a bit of a sad ITD this year in Queensland, with the withdrawal of funding to important services which assist tenants remain appropriately and safely housed, we’re going to do something special to let the Minister for Housing know how important these services are.  And we’re going to be asking for your help!  Watch this space!

Unbalanced debates lead to an unbalanced market

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So the REIQ are discussing new property management laws with the government (read here).
At the end of the year, the Tenants’ Union of Queensland has been told it will lose its funding to engage in housing policy and law reform work with which it represents the interests of tenants in these processes. Cutting their funds will seriously impede the Tenants’ Union ability to do so.

With both a tenancy law and now property management legislative review upcoming, the government should rethink the withdrawal of the policy funding and ensure these law reform debates are even sided. Uneven debates lead to an unbalanced industry which benefits no one – definitely not tenants, but neither will it benefit fair minded landlords or agents.

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

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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.

No voice for community services sector?

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David Crosbie, CEO Community Council of Australia, writes an interesting opinion piece in today’s Courier Mail about Not for Profit organisations lack of voice for.  Two notable quotes which ring true for the tenant advice sector:  

“The major concern is not so much the reduction in funding, but the lack of a clear rationale for what is cut and what is not”.  

“The ignorant cuts of governments seeking short-term savings are deplorable. The undermining of the NFP sector and its capacity to advocate is even more concerning”. 

To read the whole piece click here

 

 

 

Qld Senator Claire Moore speaks out for tenant advice services

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On September 18, Queensland Senator Claire Moore made a speech to the Australian Senale about the funding cuts to the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Program.  The following is an extract from Hansard.

The Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service offers very important practical services for people involved in rental housing in Queensland. Its services include assisting private rental tenants, public housing tenants, future tenants and members of the general community to understand the rules about being in rented accommodation; to gain confidence to work with the legislation, which is the basis of the process; to help people by assisting them with information and preparation for the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearings. It is always a stressful time when you are placed in that kind of situation, but TAAS was there to provide that support and information. Continue reading →