KEY POINTS
- The Greens will push a National Renters Protection Authority in the lead-up to the next federal election.
- It would investigate rental breaches and have the power to fine non-compliant real estate agents and landlords.
- The Greens wants the federal government to take a more active role in coordinating nationally consistent rental laws.
On-the-spot fines and taking dodgy real estate agents to police are among the proposed powers of a National Renters Protection Authority (NRPA) the Greens will push in the lead-up to the next federal election.
Along with a 1,000-strong workforce to investigate rental breaches, the authority would have sweeping powers to strip agents of their licences and fine dodgy landlords up to $15,650, and real estate agencies $78,250.
“Across this country, there are 7 million renters who are powerless in their own homes, unable to push back against unfair rent hikes, dodgy agents, and landlords who never do basic repairs,” Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather said in a statement.
“In a system stacked against renters, the NRPA will fight to protect every renter’s right to a secure and affordable home.”
Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather announced his party’s plan for a National Renters Protection Authority on Sunday evening. Source: AAP / Esther Linder
According to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the NRPA would cost the federal budget $2.5 billion per year — in the form of grants to states and territories, which control renting rules — to impose the following national tenancy standards:
- A 2-year rent nationwide rent freeze
- Ongoing 2 per cent caps on rent rises
- Right to guaranteed lease renewal
- Access to 5-year leases
- Nationwide minimum standards for ventilation, heating, cooling, and insulation
The Greens currently hold the balance of power in the Senate and have .
While this latest idea will almost certainly be anathema to Labor, recent polls suggest the prospect of Labor governing in a minority after the next election is increasingly possible. In that scenario, the Greens could wield even more power.
Advocates welcome NRPA
Rental laws are the responsibility of state and territory governments.
But the Greens and advocates say the federal government can coordinate a national framework, and point to the Morrison government’s COVID-era moratorium on rental evictions that the National Cabinet established.
More recently, the National Cabinet imposed temporary caps on coal and gas prices in response to the national energy crisis.
“We have seen the federal government step up and coordinate outcomes in a range of areas, including health and education where the states have ultimate responsibility,” said Maiy Azize, a spokesperson for the national housing campaign Everybody’s Home.
“There’s no reason why housing can’t be the same, it’s just as essential.”
Rental laws are the responsibility of state and territory governments. Source: AAP / James Ross
Joel Dignam, the executive director of tenant advocacy organisation Better Renting, said the federal government should take on more responsibility.
“For too long the real estate industry has been equivocal when it comes to rental laws,” he said.
“Even if there were more $10,000 fines that would go a long way to improving behaviour and standards.”
Opposition suggests docking GST if states don’t build more houses
Liberal senator Andrew Bragg on Sunday offered his solution to the housing crisis: put more pressure on the states.
Bragg told ABC’s Insiders program the Opposition would consider reducing GST payments to states that don’t build enough new homes, to force them to “do the heavy lifting”, if it was to win government at the next federal election.
“We need to be creating and finding a way to hit the states hard where it hurts,” he said.
“Otherwise, I fear that we would drift into a situation where the housing problem will get worse before it gets better.”
The Opposition has vowed to scrap if elected — a policy that promises 30,000 new social and affordable homes over five years.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to provide states and territories $1 billion as an incentive to speed up new-home construction, and $9.3 billion over five years for homelessness and social housing.
Currently, key legislation to increase supply and help first-home buyers get into the marker — the build to rent, and help to buy schemes — are held up in the Senate, opposed by both the Greens and Coalition.
Speaking in Perth on Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said if the Opposition and Greens want to increase housing stock they should: “get out of the way and pass our legislation.”
“Bizarrely, one of the problems the Greens have with our build to rent scheme is that developers will benefit from that,” Albanese said.
“Who do they think builds medium and high-density housing?”
