The Queensland Government has made changes to some COVID-19 arrangements for residential tenancies, effective 1 May to 30 September 2021. These apply to all general tenancies and rooming accommodation, including social housing.
The amendments are designed to help the Queensland residential rental sector transition back to normal tenancy arrangements and processes under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008.
On 23 April 2021, the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2021 received assent and extended COVID-19 emergency response legislation, including the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020, to 30 September 2021.
Today (29 April 2021), the Executive Council approved changes to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Amendment Regulation 2021, to repeal adjustments to entry rights and repair obligations and clarify the misuse of notice to leave offence. These amendments commence on 1 May 2021.
The Residential Rental Hub has been updated to reflect changes implemented by the Amendment Regulation and an updated Residential Tenancies Practice Guide will be published soon. When visiting the Rental Hub please use the following links:
COVID-19 tenancy update: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/the-hub/covid-19-tenancy-update/_nocache
Resources: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/the-hub/resources/_nocache
Support: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/the-hub/support-services/_nocache
Here is the Fact Sheet: Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Amendment Regulation 2021 which is available on the Residential Rental Hub and outlines the temporary regulatory measures that continue to apply and those no longer in place.
If you require any further information, please contact Kirstine Harvie, Executive Director at kirstine.harvie@hpw.qld.gov.au or Ange Wright, Director at ange.wright@hpw.qld.gov.au.
In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, Q Shelter launched a series of Learning Exchange teleconferences to:
Q Shelter also offered regional COVID-19 Learning Exchange meetings to provide place-focussed opportunities to raise issues and trouble-shoot solutions. Tenants and service users were also invited to raise issues and engage in dialogue about COVID-19 related matters through a separate weekly teleconference.
Q Shelter published a report that highlighted key themes and learnings from this engagement, and provided this update to the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works (DHPW).
On 29 July 2020, Queensland Health advised of new cases of COVID-19 identified in the Logan area and that contact tracing is underway. In response to these new cases, the Department of Housing and Public Works is taking a proactive approach to communicating with key stakeholders including our funded providers.
The Queensland Government is focussed on keeping all Queenslanders healthy and safe during our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes supporting our state’s most vulnerable and providing the funding, structure and support required for the housing and homelessness sector to respond.
As our partners, your ongoing work during this critical time is making a real difference to Queenslanders. Please continue to stay in touch with your local contract officer, as your main contact during this time. The department will continue to provide email updates on how we are responding to COVID-19.
Industry super funds are set to endorse proposals for state and federal governments to release cheap land and offer tax incentives so that retirement funds can invest in affordable housing during the economic recovery.
Superannuation firms and community housing groups have been in discussions for 12 months about lobbying the federal government together for subsidies that would make low-cost housing feasible as a long-term investment.
COVID Connect
The COVID Connect service is a free social phone call to provide support and community connection to people who are feeling socially isolated as a result of COVID-19. Red Cross volunteers call participants for a friendly chat to help them maintain or improve their social connection and reduce the stress of isolation during this crisis.
Who is it for?
COVID Connect is available to all adults (over the age of 18) who are experiencing isolation or loneliness.
How do people register?
Interested participants can register via the Australian Red Cross website at redcross.org.au/covidconnect/ or over the phone by ringing 1800 733 276.
Watch the RTA webinar: Overview of the COVID-19 Regulation to understand the key changes and legislative amendments for tenancies impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as outlined in the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020 and the Residential Tenancies Practice Guide released in April 2020.
The Queensland Government is focussed on keeping all Queenslanders healthy and safe during our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes supporting our state’s most vulnerable and providing the funding, structure and support required for the housing and homelessness sector to respond.
As our partners, your ongoing work during this critical time is making a real difference to Queenslanders. The Department of Housing and Public Works appreciates you working with your regional contract officers and local networks to develop responses that meet the needs in your area. Please continue to stay in touch with your local contract officer, as your main contact during this time. The department will continue to provide email updates on how we are responding to COVID-19.
The Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH) is an independent champion for preventing and ending street homelessness in Australia since 2013. We recognise that the scale of homelessness in Australia is both preventable and solvable and are committed to working to ensure that any incidents of homelessness that do occur should be rare, brief and non-recurring. AAEH supports Australian communities to individually and collectively end homelessness.
QPS have developed an alternative online/SMS option for members of the public to request Police contact in relation to DFV incidents. These alternative options are currently live on the system and have been specifically developed to capture those persons who may be isolating due to COVID-19.