Unions push for renters to be guaranteed two-year lease
The ACTU wants all renters to have access to a two-year lease, and says the government should turn to modular buildings to significantly increase public housing stock.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is urging the government to guarantee all renters a minimum two-year lease. ACTU president Michele O Neil insists these changes will not deter landlords, as they would still need to offer renters at least a two-year lease. O Neil also proposes increasing the rate of public housing construction from one in 50 to one in 10 new homes, effectively a fivefold increase.
Currently, the legal minimum for lease agreements differs across states and territories, with the standard set at 12 months. A nationwide two-year minimum lease, with the option for a shorter period, would provide renters with more stability and the security to plan, according to O Neil. This would address fears that renters currently have.
The ACTU also seeks to return to a Bob Hawke-style model of construction, thereby boosting public housing construction from one in 50 to one in 10 new homes. Public housing, owned and managed by state and territory governments, has seen a decline in rental units last year, despite an increase in annual dwelling completions. The ACTU believes expanding public housing will create more rental stock, making private stock more sustainable.
The union plans to push for tighter rent gouging rules and aims for at least 6% of total housing stock to be public. The Australian government has welcomed the suggestions but views them as not being government policy. Housing Minister Clare O Neil stated the government is considering these ideas for improving the situation of Australian renters.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
