Starting the journey back to normal tenancy arrangements
In April this year, the Queensland Government acted quickly to legislate its COVID-19 response for residential tenancies, implementing among other measures a 6-month moratorium for rent arrears caused by COVID-19 impacts between 29 March and 29 September 2020.
Six months on, due to our state’s strong position in managing the COVID-19 health risks, the Queensland Government has announced some changes to the COVID-19 arrangements for residential tenancies.
What has changed from 30 Sept 2020?
The following CEASED TO APPLY as of 30 September 2020:
- The six-month eviction moratorium for COVID-19 impacted tenants
- Fixed term agreement extensions for COVID-19 impacted tenants
- Agreement provisions that prevent property owners ending tenancies with COVID-19 impacted tenants without grounds
- Agreement provisions that provide additional grounds* for owners to end tenancies (*owner occupation and sale of premises which require vacant possession.)
- Adjusted rent and bond processes that support parties to negotiate arrangements to manage COVID-19 impacts on their tenancies
- Mandatory conciliation of COVID-19 related tenancy disputes through the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA)
What will continue?
The following COVID-19 protections will CONTINUE TO APPLY until 31 December 2020:
- Provisions allowing tenants experiencing domestic and family violence to end their tenancies quickly
- Protections for tenants against being listed in a tenancy database for rent arrears caused by COVID-19 impacts
- Limits on reletting costs for eligible tenants who end their fixed term tenancies early (strict qualifying criteria continue to apply)
- Entry restrictions and requirements to support COVID-19 social distancing measures
- Relaxed repair and maintenance obligations for owners
Working together
We are pleased to report that most of our owner clients and tenants have been co-operative and sympathetic towards the other party’s situation.
We have successfully negotiated rent reductions and deferments for some of our tenancies, and now that tenants’ incomes have stabilised, most of these agreements have run their course and rent payments are back to normal.
For further updates as they happen, keep watching our Facebook page and visit our website:
https://ezyapprent.com.au/covid-19-update/
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