Yahoo Finance Threat of $78,000 fines to protect millions of 'powerless' Aussies in dodgy landlord crackdown
Fines of up to $78,000 could be issued for bad behaviour under The Greens' plan to protect renters.
The Greens have announced a plan to make dodgy Aussie landlords and real estate agents pay big bucks for their behaviour. The party wants to establish the National Renters Protection Authority (NRPA), which would hire 1,000 people to go after the homeowners and property managers that make life difficult for renters.
It would cost taxpayers around $200 million a year to operate the new body, with the Greens likening it to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in terms of its powers. Greens leader Adam Bandt said something needs to change to improve conditions for tenants around the country.
“For too long renters have been treated like second-class citizens by both Labor and the Liberals,” he explained.
“Unlimited rent increases should be illegal. Unliveable rentals should be illegal. That’s what a National Renters Protection Authority would achieve.”
Are you a landlord? What do you think about this policy? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
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How would the NRPA work?
The National Renters Protection Authority would be able to launch investigations into landlords or real estate agencies based on submissions from tenants.
The NRPA would have the power to issue on-the-spot fines of $3,756 to individuals or $18,780 to real estate agencies.
That fine would increase to $15,650 for individuals and $78,250 for agencies if they were found to be repeat offenders.
The Authority could even have the ability to strip an agent's license to practice.
Greens want minimum standards for 'powerless' renters
The Greens would gift the states and territories $2.5 billion in Commonwealth funding, but only on the condition that they cap rent rises and introduce laws around rental freezes.
Analysis released earlier this year found Aussies could collectively be spared $5.3 billion in rent increases over 12 months if a freeze was implemented.
Greens housing and homelessness spokesman Max Chandler-Mather believes a body like NRPA is the only way to ensure the millions of Aussie renters get a fair go.
“Governments treat renters’ rights like an opt-in scheme for property investors but the Greens are fighting for legal enforcement of minimum standards and limits on rent increases,” Chandler-Mather said.
“What’s the point of minimum standards for renters if there’s nobody to call when the landlord or real estate [agent] breaks the rules?
“There will be no more pleading with the landlord to send a plumber, fix the heater or send an electrician – it’s your right to have a liveable rental home, and the Greens will make that a reality.
“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.
“In a system stacked against renters, The National Renters Protection Authority will fight to protect every renters’ right to a secure and affordable home.”
What are the chances of this happening?
The latest poll from The Australian shows support for Anthony Albanese has dropped to the equal-lowest level since he became Prime Minister.
With a federal election looming next year, a hung parliament could see Labor cling to the Greens to form a minority government.
This could see the Greens ensure policies like NRPA and it's plan to tax some of Australia's biggest companies be pushed through.
That latter policy drew the ire of Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn last week, who said companies like his are unfairly being drawn into political battles.
The Greens' plan to impose huge taxes on Aussie companies with "excessive profits" could bring in more than $500 billion over a decade. But Comyn said it was a "performative policy designed to attract attention".
“It is based on a false dichotomy that a business of significant scale, and as a function of that may have larger profit, that there is something unjust about that," he told a parliamentary hearing.
“It is a policy that would seem to be based on there being a pool of assets that can just be tapped whenever it be convenient and there be no consequences for that.”
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