Committee Details

Committee's report

The committee tabled its report on 16 August 2021. The government's response to the committee's report was tabled on 13 October 2021. The Bill was passed with amendments on 14 October 2021. 

About the Bill

On 18 June 2021, Hon Leeanne Enoch MP, Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, introduced the Housing Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (Bill) into the Queensland Parliament.  The Bill was referred to the Community Support and Services Committee for detailed consideration and report by 16 August 2021.

The Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027 (Housing Strategy) is a 10-year framework which aims to provide all Queenslanders with a better pathway to safe, secure and affordable housing. The explanatory notes state that the objective of the Bill is to deliver key objectives of the Housing Strategy, including:

• Modernisation - a commitment to reviewing and modernising rental laws to better protect tenants and lessors and improve housing stability in the rental market.
• Connections - ensuring that vulnerable community members are supported to sustain tenancies in appropriate and secure housing that facilitates social, economic, and cultural participation.
• Confidence - supporting a fair and responsive housing system through reforms to legislation and regulations that enhance the safety and dignity of all Queenslanders and promote the provision of a range of housing options that meet the diverse needs of Queenslanders.

The Bill aims to achieve its policy objectives by amending the:

• Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Regulation 2009 and Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020, to:
  • support tenants and residents to enforce their existing rights by removing the ability for lessors and providers to end tenancies without grounds
  • provide an expanded suite of additional approved reasons for lessors/providers and tenants/residents to end a tenancy
  • ensure all Queensland rental properties are safe, secure, and functional by prescribing minimum housing standards and introducing compliance mechanisms to strengthen the ability to enforce these standards
  • strengthen rental law protections for people experiencing domestic and family violence, and
  • support parties to residential leases reach agreement about renting with pets.
• Retirement Villages Act 1999, to:
  • provide certainty, security, and peace of mind to residents of freehold resident-operated retirement villages
  • implement the intent of recommendations made during an independent review of timeframes for payment of exit entitlements in Queensland retirement villages, and
  • create a framework to exempt freehold resident-operated retirement villages from the 18-month mandatory buyback requirements under the Retirement Villages Act 1999.

Related inquiry

The committee is simultaneously considering the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (Tenants' Rights) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 which covers similar subject matter to the Bill.

Submissions

It is standard practice for committees to publish the names of submitters, unless they have indicated that they wish to keep their names withheld or the committee determines otherwise due to the content of the submission. The committee has been made aware that some submitters engaging through some third party campaign portals, may have been advised that names would not be published. Given the personal and very sensitive nature of some information shared with the committee, and to ensure that submissions can be published promptly, the committee has decided to anonymise submissions generated through campaign portals.

Contacts for advice and support

If you are affected by any of the issues raised through this inquiry process, details of organisations which can offer advice and support are provided below:
Lifeline Crisis Support – 13 11 14
Beyond Blue Support Service – 1300 224 636
DVConnect – 1800 811 811 - link to website
Men's Line – 1800 600 636 - link to website
1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732
Sexual Assault Helpline – 1800 010 120
Homeless Hotline – 1800 474 753 - link to website

If you require housing assistance you may also contact your local Housing Service Centre of the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy. A full list of Housing Service Centres is available here.

Timeline