WA pushes back freeze on rent rises and evictions

PIC: BigStock

The State Government has announced they will extend the freeze on rent increases and other provisions for a further six months.

The emergency residential tenancy laws will be in place until March 28, 2021 in an effort to preserve stability and certainty in the rental market.

The extended laws are helping those in private and public housing, residential long-stay parks, as well as boarders and lodgers, stay in the rental homes. 

Commerce Minister John Quigley said with the threat of COVID-19 and a second wave still real, extending the rent moratorium protects WA renters and landlords, and helps create stability for everyone.

"For residential tenancies, low vacancy rates for rental properties have, and will continue to force rents to rise, and this together with the current unemployment rate, as well as changes to JobKeeper, means families may find themselves in financial hardship," he said. 

"Those who have been able to return to work are only just starting to recover. To add difficulties in finding rental accommodation or not being able to afford rent to their worries would be an awful proposition."

Landlords will be supported through the new Consumer Protection Landlord Hotline, a phone service answering questions and offering specialist assistance to residential landlords with COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic related tenancy issues.

The Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme will continue through the extended emergency period with tenants who have had a reduction of 75 per cent or more in their after-tax income eligible for funds.

Renters who have been stood down from their jobs or had their hours reduced, are self-employed, sole traders, casual workers or contractors should look to apply for grants equivalent to four weeks' rent to a maximum of $2,000, paid directly to landlords who then reduce tenants' rent by the same amount.

Further details available at http://www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/covidrenting or by calling the Landlord's Hotline on 1300 304 054.

More from Local News

Fuel Watch
  • 179.9: Ampol Foodary Falcon (Miami Beach)
  • 179.9: EG Ampol Falcon
  • 183.9: Ampol Foodary North Yunderup
  • 184.9: Ampol Foodary Lakelands
  • 185.9: 7-Eleven Greenfields