Dodgy landlords and real estate agents would face thousands of dollars in fines under a new federal body to protect tenants proposed by the Greens today.
The party’s latest policy to address Australia’s housing crisis is the National Renters Protection Authority (NRPA), an authority staffed with 1000 public servants across the country that would investigate claims of rental breaches and fine the offenders responsible.
The body would cost taxpayers $200 million a year, according to modelling from the Parliamentary Budget Office.
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“Across this country, there are seven million renters who are powerless in their own home, unable to push back against unfair rent hikes, dodgy agents and landlords who never do basic repairs,” Greens housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather said.
“In a system stacked against renters, the National Renters Protection Authority will fight to protect every renters’ right to a secure and affordable home.”
Under the proposed body, first-time offences would attract fines of up to $3756 for individual landlords or real estate agents, and up to $18,700 for agencies.
Those figures would rise to $15,650 and $78,250 respectively for serious and repeat offenders.
The model is part of the Greens’ larger push on housing, and would be accompanied by a $2.5 billion fund to be distributed to the states and territories in exchange for improving rental standards.
That would include a host of reforms including freezing rents for two years and perpetually capping increases at 2 per cent, and introducing national minimum standards for ventilation, heating, cooling and insulation.
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“Unlimited rent increases should be illegal. Unliveable rentals should be illegal,” Greens leader Adam Bandt said.
“That’s what a National Renters Protection Authority would achieve.
“Labor and the Liberals think they can tinker around the edges with a fundamentally broken housing system but renters will punish them at the ballot box.”
Chandler-Mather said the body was a necessary step to fix Australia’s rental market.
“Any renter will be able to tell you about the terrible anxiety that comes when a landlord or real estate breaks the rules and the NRPA is about ensuring every renter has someone to call when that happens,” he said.
“Australia is one of the worst places in the world to be a renter, we desperately need a national body with teeth to fight in their corner and enforce stronger renters’ rights across the country.”
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