Community leaders in Victoria have warned that changes to rental laws could adversely impact tenants, including people from CALD communities.

More than fifty CEOs and community leaders have written to Premier Daniel Andrews warning that proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will negatively impact 1.5 million Victorians who rent their homes, leading to greater housing insecurity and homelessness.

The open letter says the changes being proposed “would significantly reduce the safety, stability and privacy of Victorian renters, particularly those who are already socially and economically disadvantaged and/or at greater risk of homelessness”.

It says groups at greatest risk include CALD communities, women, single parents, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and vulnerable Victorians who experienced homelessness, housing insecurity, family violence, disability, mental illness or who have caring responsibilities.

The letter calls on Premier Andrews to “rule out changes that would result in the negative outcomes outlined above”.

These changes include reducing the grounds for breaches and evictions to include minor complaints from neighbours and rent payments that are just one-day late.

The campaign against the proposed changes is being led by the ‘Make Renting Fair Campaign’, a community-based organisation advocating for ten key policy proposals that would give renters greater safety, security of tenure and privacy in line with other jurisdictions.

Campaign Spokesperson, Mark O’Brien, said that the latest Census data has revealed that Victoria, and Melbourne in particular, are quickly becoming communities of renters rather than owners.

“With almost one in three Melburnians renting their homes, the Victorian Government can no longer treat tenants as second-class citizens with second-class rights,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Everyone needs the basics – safety, stability and privacy – regardless of whether they rent or own. The big changes we are seeing to the profile of renters includes more young families, more low-and-middle income workers, and more older Victorians and retirees on fixed incomes.

“Victorians today are renting for longer periods of time and our laws are woefully inadequate,” he said.

The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria has sent a letter of support to the campaign,

Mr O’Brien said holding down a job, running a business or raising kids required long-term stability so people could plan for the future.

“The Victorian Premier has acknowledged our affordable housing crisis and has made a number of positive moves to support people experiencing homelessness,” he said.

“The other piece of that puzzle is strengthening the rental market to make sure people can get into housing and to keep it over the long-term.

“We all need more than a roof over our head. We need a place to call home and to build a life around. One and a half million Victorians are asking the Premier to give them a fair go at that,” Mr O’Brien said.

Laurie Nowell
AMES Australia Senior Journalist