Proserpine tenant thanks TAAS service!

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Proserpine

from Wikipedia

Another reason why tenants need specialist services!

25 March 2013
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦
♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Road
♦♦♦♦♦ALE Q 4♦♦♦

Dear Sir/Madam,
                               RE: TAAS SERVICE PROSERPINE

We write in recognition of the awesome service that we received from Proserpine TAAS and particularly staff Rebecca and Julie during a tenancy matter which stretched on for approximately 7 months through the Proserpine Magistrates Court.

We found ourselves renting a house at ♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦ale, with an  underground cellar which the owner neglected to mention floods with approximately 14000 litres of whenever it rains. By the time we realized what was going on the water had been sitting in the cellar for approx 5 weeks and as the house was completely made of wood the wood acted as a wick and the entire house soaked up this water and was damp and then moldy (sic). This mould then attacked our furniture and personal belongings leaving us with a loss of approximately $81,000 as assessed by our contents insurance provider. The house also had several roof leaks one which was particularly damaging as it leaked into the main bedroom wardrobe.

The owners were ordered to rectify the issues but failed to do so before we left.  After asking the magistrate to terminate the lease, we vacated the property on 30th December 2012, the owners immediately re-rented the property.

The courts awarded us a rent reduction for the duration of the tenancy, reimbursed us for costs eg. pumping the cellar and ensured that we received our bond back at the end of the tenancy, without court intervention none of this would have occurred.

TAAS staff supported us Continue reading →

Scotland & Qld: a potted history of centrailsed bond collection

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IScottish flagt’s only two years since bonds taken from tenants in Scotland have had to be deposited in a prescribed place.  Before that they were kept in the pocket (or bank accounts) of landlords and we’re guessing that at least some tenants had difficulties getting their bonds back at the end of their tenancy, no matter what condition they left the property in.  Here’s a link to information on the Scottish tenancy deposit scheme here.

We guess that’s what used to happen in Scotland because that’s what it was like in Queensland.  In 1986 the Tenants’ Union of Queensland was formed by a group of tenants and concerned organisations who were tired of bonds being unfairly withheld at the end of tenancies.  Then in 1988, under the Ahern National government, the original tenancy advice program was funded in response to housing issues arising from development around the World Expo 1988 site.

The Tenants’ Union and other tenant advocates pushed for centralised bond lodgement and were key to the formation of the Rental Bond Authority (RBA) in 1989.  The formation of the Authority was strenuously opposed by the real estate and property owner organisations. Continue reading →

JPs to hear QCAT matters, trial one step closer

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Judging upThe following is a press release from the State Attorney-General, Mr Jarrod Bleijie, from today, March 19.

Changes expand eligibility for JP QCAT trial

The Government’s JP QCAT trial is a step closer after the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Justices of the Peace) Amendment Bill 2013 was introduced in Parliament today.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said based on feedback received during consultation, the original criteria had been amended to make more JP’s eligible for the trial.

“The provision for legally qualified JP’s to have five years’ experience as a JP and three years’ post-admission experience has been removed,” Mr Bleijie said.

“This means any legally qualified JP can now enrol in the program, including those who applied originally but did not meet the criteria. Continue reading →

Gov’t moves on 3 strikes policy for social housing tenants

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Tenants'voiceThis article in last Friday’s Brisbane Times reported on a new ‘three strikes’ policy for social housing tenants.  Whilst there is limited detail about the policy at this stage, there are several concerns with this announcement.

Friday’s statement by Housing Minister Tim Mander follows on from previous Housing Minister, Dr Bruce Flegg, who announced the policy intent  at the opening of the National Housing Conference in Brisbane last November. We assume that Minister Mander’s policy will broadly follow the parameters set out in Dr Flegg’s speech. Here’s a quote from that speech:

“The overwhelming majority of public housing tenants do the right thing, however there is a minority whose anti-social behaviour can affect the lives of those around them,” Dr Flegg said.

“I am proposing to crack down on these unruly tenants by asking them to leave if they receive three strikes within 12 months for disruptive behaviour like noisy parties, vandalism or destroying property.

“If tenants have engaged in assault, acts of violence or drug manufacturing, the department would immediately initiate legal action to evict them.

Such statements might sound reasonable to many people and have populist appeal but, when looked at in depth, do they achieve the government’s desired outcome?

This article discusses the following questions: are there unintended consequences for vulnerable households, will these changes undermine due process in dealing with allegations of ‘unruly conduct’; does the government already have the power to do what these changes propose to do; and, is it fair to develop such a policy where there is no tenant advocate to engage with the government about the proposals. Continue reading →

Did you see our cinema ad?

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The following cinema advertisement was produced by Save Tenant Services last year, before the Commonwealth stepped in with emergency funding.  Some of our supporters will have seen it before but many will not.  We thought we’d replay it.  Remember,the emergency funding for the TUQ and 22 local tenant advice services runs out at the end of June.  If you have time, please help our campaign to secure on-going monies, here’s some suggestions how.

Commonwealth makes homelessness funding offer to states

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As per today’s media release (see below) from the Federal Minister for Housing, Mark Butler, the Commonwealth have now made their offers to the states regarding a new homelessness partnership agreement. This agreement provides for joint funding from both levels of government for services working to prevent and those working with the homeless.

The current agreement runs out on June 30.  In Queensland, like other states and territories, we are awaiting the state government’s response to the offer to provide clarity for these services as well as for the workers whose jobs rest on the agreement’s outcome.  The govenment’s response may also provide clarity for the future of tenant advice services.   We wait nervously.

Housing Ministers  meet again on March 28. Continue reading →

Consumer justice for tenants? Happy World Consumer Day

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Scales of justiceToday is World Consumer Rights Day and the theme this year is Consumer Justice:   Click here for more information about it.

Got us thinking about tenants as consumers. Even though having a home is a fundamental human right, since the evolution of modern tenancy laws in the 1970s, tenants have been framed as consumers.  The private rental market consists of tenants as consumers and landlords & real estate as the industry.

As consumers, tenants get a rough ride. When you consider who pays for tenancy dispute resolution, it is clear tenants are getting a raw deal. Tenants’ bond money is used in Queensland to fund the entire operations of the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA). Continue reading →

….and where will this tenant go?

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This tenant was interviewed just before the Commonwealth announced emergency funding to keep the 23 local Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS) services, including the Tenants Union of Queensland going until June.

Where will she go after that if they are not re-funded? The Qld gov’t must reinstatement funding. It’s only fair that some bond interest is used for tenant services. Follow this link to find out how you can help.

Call to action – message from a supporter

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Tenants'rightsWe call on all concerned community members including Queensland’s 1.5 million tenants to act on the issue of funding for the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (TAASQ) Program.  Please contact your local MP to insist that funding certainty is restored to these independent and important services and tenants’re-gain benefit from their bond interest through re-instating TAASQ.  This is a Call to Action – we don’t just need you to take an interest but we need you to act as quickly as possible please!

  1. Contact your local MP and complain
  2. Send a letter – templates are available here
  3. Ring a radio station
  4. Write on a blog
  5. Write to a letter to an editor

In mid 2012, the new Queensland government was talking about the need for effective and efficient community services; front line services that did not burden the taxpayer. On July 24, then Minister for Housing and Public Works, Dr Bruce Flegg, announced that the long standing TAASQ Program would be discontinued.

Media reporting on public service cuts seemed to divert attention from some pertinent facts regarding this decision; one that has widespread significance for the one third, or 500,000, of Queensland households who rent their homes.

The TAASQ Program funds 23 services spread throughout the state where tenants can receive assistance (either face to face or on the phone, depending on their needs) to understand rights and obligations and to help preventing and dealing with disputes.  Many interventions by TAASs resolve situations where tenants would otherwise end up homeless, but they also help tenants to get their bond money back and defend unreasonable (often monetary) claims against them.  Continue reading →

Who will help this client if tenant advice is not funded after June?

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Deaf Society of NSW

Deaf Society of NSW

A real casework story forwarded to us from a Brisbane based service this week. We wonder who will help these sort of renters after June if the TAAS program is not refunded?  Please Premier Newman, renters need these services.  Just a small portion of the interest on tenants’ bonds funds a whole network of local services.

“We had a call from a renter using TTY – the relay services for people who are  hearing impaired.  Through the TTY call, we realised the first thing we had to establish was whether the client was covered under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 or if they were a lodger.  After talking for some time on the phone the caller asked if they could see an advisor face to face.  The client reported they had sought help from the RTA, who were unable to assist, as well as from another service that turned them down because they could not afford an Auslan interpreter.

We really needed to see the caller’s documents in order to make sure our advice was completely accurate.  Whilst the cost of interpreters is quite prohibitive, we did not want the client to be disadvantaged nor for them to get the run around, so we organised a date and time.  Continue reading →