Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill
Tuesday 14 November 2023
Ms CLANCY (Elder) (22:02): I am really proud to stand here tonight in support of the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2023. Almost one third of my electorate are currently renting, and it is incredibly hard. Data published by the South Australian Housing Authority shows just how much private rentals have increased in the last five years, with the smallest increase in median household rent being found in my electorate in Clarence Park, at almost 30 per cent.
In the past five years, rents in my community have increased by at least 40 to 50 per cent, reaching as high as 68 per cent in Westbourne Park. These increases are not sustainable, they are not healthy, and they are keeping South Australians out of housing and all of the benefits that a secure home provides. This is a crisis that only those of us on this side of the house are committed to addressing. Crossing your hands behind your back and hoping the market will do your job for you is not in the best interests of South Australians. And some of the arguments being made by those opposite is just nonsensical.
The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute shows what is very important to investors in deciding to sell is that it is a good time to sell and realise capital gains and wanting money for another investment. But if someone did choose to sell, let's be clear those properties still exist—they do not cease to exist—they will be sold to somebody else who may choose to live in it or choose to rent it out. There is still housing being used in our community. And I guess the real question is: will these reforms make the opposition leader sell one of his 14 properties? It will be interesting to see.
We have also seen in New South Wales and Victoria that tenancy law reforms have not stopped rental investment. We can, and we must, do more to support South Australians who are going through this current crisis, and it is shameful that those opposite cannot see that. We as a parliament, and as a society, as a community, need to acknowledge just how difficult things are getting for people.
The Malinauskas Labor government is acting decisively to address the rental crisis by improving security for tenants and addressing rental affordability. The bill before us this evening includes the most significant reforms to South Australia's residential tenancy laws in a generation. Our reform of the act will put an end to no-cause evictions, extend the end of the tenancy notice period from 28 days to 60 days, make it easier to rent with pets, protect tenants' information, ensure rental properties comply with minimum housing standards and provide additional support for victims of domestic and family violence.
These are all opportunities, opportunities to reduce the stress on renters, improve safety, and foster a more even playing field. It is an opportunity for a healthier and safer community. It is not the doom and gloom that we have been hearing about for the last two hours. All of this follows our initiatives earlier this year to address rental affordability by banning rent bidding, protecting tenants' information and raising the bond threshold, which have already saved South Australian tenants more than $11.5 million since being introduced in April.
The successful passage of this bill would allow landlords to only end a periodic tenancy or to not renew a fixed term lease for a prescribed reason such as breaches by the tenant or wanting to sell, renovate or occupy the property. It would also increase the minimum notice to end a tenancy from 28 days to 60 days so tenants have more time to secure a new home and make the necessary and often difficult arrangements to move.
Even 60 days is not a gigantic amount of time, given the current rental market, but it is a hell of a lot better than 28 days. A few months ago, I had a woman in my community whose lease was coming to an end, she was given the 28 days' notice and she applied for more than 15 properties but was unsuccessful. When her 28 days were up—and this was a woman who was working full-time, she has an income, she could pay rent somewhere, but the rental availability was not there—she and her teenage son moved into a caravan park. These are the kinds of situations that are happening in our state and why our government wants to take action to make things fairer.
These amendments are crucial to promoting the security currently not afforded to most renters in this state. Renters in South Australia have every right to feel secure in their homes and know that they will have enough time to organise themselves and their families should they need to move.
A very common request I have received both as the member for Elder and as the Premier's Advocate for Suicide Prevention is to support legislation that would allow renters greater rights when it comes to pet ownership. We know pets can play a huge role in the lives of all South Australians who are lucky enough to own one. Pets provide companionship, reduce loneliness and promote better mental health. They provide emotional support and strengthen the sense of home, which can be lost to many renters.
Pets, particularly dogs, also promote healthier lifestyles, physical activity and a greater sense of responsibility for children in the family as well. A quick shout-out to my pup, Pepsi, who I wake up at 5.15 most mornings to walk—I am sorry sweetheart, you might miss out tomorrow morning, given the time. Thank you for getting me out of bed and into the fresh air in the mornings and for the cuddles in the evenings.
I am so proud tonight to support reform which will for the first time in South Australia allow renters to keep pets with reasonable conditions to be set by their landlord, such as keeping the animal outside or having the carpets cleaned at the end of their tenancy.
In closing, I would once again sincerely like to thank the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs and everyone in her team. I would also like to thank each and every single South Australian who participated in the YourSAy consultation reviewing the Residential Tenancies Act or who wrote to me in support of these important reforms. I hear you, the Malinauskas Labor government hears you, and we are getting on with the job of immediately addressing the rental crisis in our state.
