There have been claims some Canberra renters have had their rent increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It has spurred calls for a moratorium on rent increases as well as a temporary tenancy mediation service to be set up.
Tenants' Union ACT has also called to be included in discussions around tenancy legislation.
The union's principal solicitor Charlie Faulder said he had heard some renters had faced an increase in rent during the pandemic.
ACT Greens housing spokeswoman Caroline Le Couteur has called for an interim ban on rent increases for tenants struggling during the pandemic.
"We are hearing concerning reports that some landlords are actually increasing rents during this period," she said.
"Thousands of Canberrans have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19, including younger people working in retail and hospitality who are on low salaries.
"If you've lost your job or had your hours cut, the last thing that you need is a rent increase.
"An interim moratorium on rental increases for those struggling during the pandemic would go a long way to supporting renters at this challenging time."
The ACT government has previously announced measures to ease the burden on tenants who lose income as a result of the economic fallout of COVID-19.
Landlords in the ACT who reduce the rents of tenants by at least 25 per cent for six months can receive land tax rebates. The maximum rebate amount is $100 a week, to access this landlords would need to reduce their tenant's rent by $200 a week.
READ MORE:
The territory government also announced last week real estate agents would be banned from placing renters on "blacklists", which are private online databases used by agents to show the rental history of prospective tenants.
But there are concerns tenants are hesitant to approach landlords or agents to ask for a decrease as fears this could be rejected.
"The difficulty in these situation is what will motivate a lessor to agree," Mr Faulder said.
"Unfortunately there are very few lessors who are coming forward at this stage."
Ms Le Couteur has asked for the government to set up a mediation service to provide information and liaise discussions between tenants and landlords to be operated by the recently de-funded Tenants' Union ACT.
The ACT branch of the union provided a tenancy advice service in the territory for 24 years before it was controversially de-funded earlier this year. It now operates as a volunteer organisation and Legal Aid ACT delivers the new service.
"A service that steps in to try and mediate may well, in the absence of anything else, is going to hopefully make a difference," Mr Faulder said.
"I think the tenants union has a reputation for being able to understand the issues and to understand clearly the bigger picture impact I guess."
Mr Faulder said the union would also write to the ACT government this week to be included in discussions on draft legislation.
"While we have lost funding to provide legal advice we can still be a voice for legislative reform and we are trying to impress upon the government it considers the tenants' union as a voice so we are privy to seeing the draft legislation so we can make comment," he said.
"I'm going to be writing to the minister this week to ask we be included in these discussions because there otherwise doesn't appear to be a voice for tenants that has the same depth, knowledge and experience that there is another service."
- For information on COVID-19, please go to the ACT Health website or the federal Health Department's website.
- You can also call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
- If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000)
Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. If you're looking to stay up to date on COVID-19, you can also sign up for our twice-daily digest here.