Realtors accused of scare tactics over tenancy Bill
The Tenants’ Union of NSW has slammed the NSW Real Estate Institute for using scare tactics against the state Government’s proposed Residential Tenancies Bill.
A spokesman for the Union says the institute is running a mail campaign against the Bill, claiming it threatens landlords and their investments.
“It’s a dishonest scare campaign, [they] are making ludicrous claims, said Chris Martin, Senior Policy Officer of the Tenants’ Union.
“I have no problem with landlords getting in touch with their MP’s, but it would be great if they could read [the bill] for themselves and not go by what the REINSW gives them.”
The mail-out, entitled “Landlords under threat in NSW”, highlights three major tenancy changes in the proposed bill and encourages landlords to contact their local MP as a matter of urgency.
The CEO of The Real Estate Institute of NSW, Tim McKibbin, defended the mail out, saying the legislation would be dangerous for tenants as well as landlords.
“The balance of power has been ridiculously moved to the tenant.”
“It all makes investment in property very unattractive. You can not be a tenant unless you have a landlord, and if it’s unattractive, then you have no landlords, they will sell and tenants will lose”.
The Real Estate Institute’s main concerns with the bill include tenants right to sublet the rented property to whomever they chose and their ability to make “cosmetic changes” to the property and fixtures without the consent of the landlord.
“Cosmetic changes, what does that mean? asked Charlie Garcia, Director of Alliance Real Estate, Panania.
“What’s cosmetic to the tenant might not be to the landlord. Will a skilled tradesperson be making the changes? Or will the tenants do it themselves?
“What’s the point of being a landlord when at the end of the day you have no control over your property? Some tenants will really exploit this.”
The Bill would also allow tenants to break their lease within the fixed-term without reason, by giving 14 days notice.
But tenants are worried that the Bill could have negative impacts for renters.
“I think that landlords won’t be happy and am concerned that they might react by increasing already overinflated rental prices,” said Caroline Short, 37, of Double bay, who has been renting for 15 years.
Rental advocate also raised concerns that the bill won’t do enough to protect tenants.
“There are many useful things in the new draft bill from a tenants perspective, but it still fails to give tenants a reasonable degree of security of tenure because the law will still allow tenants to be evicted without having being provided with a reason,” said Mary Perkins, Executive Director of Shelter NSW.
by Stefica Bikes
