12 July 2017

Have your say on the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (No 2)

Submissions are now open on the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (No 2). The bill makes a series of amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 related to methamphetamine contamination, liability for damage to rental premises caused by a tenant, and tenancies over rental premises that are unlawful for residential use.

In particular, the bill aims to:
· Make it easier for landlords to test their properties for methamphetamine.
· Allow tenants to end their tenancy if test results show unsafe levels of methamphetamine contamination.
· Create regulation-making powers about methamphetamine testing.
· Clarify tenants’ liability for careless damage they may cause.
· Strengthen the law to help prosecute landlords who rent out unlawful residential premises.

The bill addresses decisions from the Court of Appeal in Holler v Osaki and the High Court in Anderson v FM Custodians Ltd. The Chairperson of the Local Government and Environment Committee, Andrew Bayly, encourages people to submit to the committee. He looks forward to working through the “vitally important issues” raised in the bill.

Tell the Local Government and Environment Committee what you think
Send your submission on the bill by midnight on 22 August 2017.

For more details about the bill:
· Read the full content of the bill
· What’s been said in Parliament about the bill
· Follow the committee’s Facebook page for updates

ENDS

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