Rent freeze bid to hit state parliament
The Greens will introduce a bill this week seeking a two-year rent freeze.
Under the bill, landlords would be prevented from increasing residential rent throughout a two-year period, after which rent could be increased only in line with inflation.
Greens MLC Robert Simms told InDaily the bill to be introduced on Wednesday came about as it had “become clear the government isn’t going to take action on rent prices”.
“I think times of crisis require different approaches, and this is such a circumstance at the moment,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we’re in the middle of the worst housing crisis we’ve seen in generations.
“I think South Australians are just horrified by the rent prices that we’re seeing at the moment, and I think people really want to see the Parliament take action.”
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Simms said while he recognised the “good work of the Malinauskas Government on rental reform”, the Greens had been unable to reach an agreement on rent prices during last year’s reforms.
“Since then, we’ve seen prices just continue to go up and up and up,” he said.
“The reality is there are some landlords that are just seeking to make mega profits, and that’s just simply not fair.
“Giving renters a reprieve for the next two years I don’t think is much to ask.”
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The new bill would allow rental increases after the two year period only if they were inline with inflation rates. Photo: AAP/Jono Searle
Under the Residential Tenancies (Rent Freeze) Amendment Bill, a tenant could apply to the rental tribunal for a declaration of the maximum rent payable on a premise.
Should a landlord be found to be charging more than the maximum rent payable as determined by the tribunal, they may be liable to reimburse their tenant the excess rent charged.
Under the bill, maximum rent payable on a residential property during the two-year rent freeze would be the rent included in a residential tenancy agreement as of January 1 2024.
If the property was not the subject of a residential tenancy agreement at that time, it would be determined on factors including the most recent rent under a previous tenancy agreement entered after January 2023.
Simms said rent bidding, which has been found to remain prevalent despite the 2023 reforms, would be subsequently reduced as a result of the bill.
“Certainly freezing prices will have an effect… but we do need to close the loop by really banning rent bidding too,” he said.
Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels said evidence showed the introduction of rent capping could place further pressure on housing supply.
“Lack of supply is the predominant cause of the current rental crisis with a vacancy rate of less than one per cent in SA and so the last thing we want to do is to reduce that further,” she said.
“The Malinauskas Government is acting decisively to address rental affordability.”
