Property owners and renters living in regional Victoria should be concerned about the Victorian Government\u2019s proposed \u2018Rent Fair\u2019 legislation, which they\u2019ve announced will be introduced to Parliament during the week beginning August 6.<\/p>\n
Rental vacancy rates in regional Victoria are already very low and the REIV fears that this new \u2018nanny state\u2019 legislation will discourage property owners from renting out their houses as it all becomes too hard and too much of a risk.<\/p>\n
The latest REIV data for July shows that Victoria\u2019s regional vacancy rate is sitting at 1.5 per cent, compared with 1.8 per cent for the entire State, which means there are just 1.5 houses available for rent out of every 100.<\/p>\n
The vacancy rate for Ballarat and Central Highlands is the lowest at just 1.1 per cent, Bendigo and Loddon\u2019s is 1.3 per cent, Wodonga and Ovens- Murray has a 1.4 per cent vacancy rate and Geelong
\nand the Barwon region is at 1.9 per cent.<\/p>\n
The REIV has advocated strongly against the Residential Tenancies Act which would swing the pendulum of rights overwhelming towards renters, with property owners stripped of control over what goes on in their house, unit or apartment.<\/p>\n
Under the changes, landlords will not have a say if pets are permitted to live in their residences or if modifications can take place which is unreasonable considering the possible negative impact on the property\u2019s value.<\/p>\n
The REIV also objects to capping bonds to four week\u2019s rental, the withdrawal of the 120 day \u2018no reason\u2019 notice to vacate and burdening landlords with the expense and responsibility of disposing of abandoned goods and furniture.<\/p>\n
We appreciate that the Victorian Government\u2019s intention is to improve conditions for renters, but
\nthese changes may have the reverse effect as property owners are likely to remove their dwellings from the market. \u2018Rent Fair\u2019, in its current form, will result in greater screening of applicants and increased rents.<\/p>\n
The REIV will continue discussions with all sides of politics to reach a reasonable outcome on this issue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Property owners and renters living in regional Victoria should be concerned about the Victorian Government\u2019s proposed \u2018Rent Fair\u2019 legislation, which they\u2019ve announced will be introduced to Parliament during the week beginning August 6. Rental vacancy rates in regional Victoria are already very low and the REIV fears that this new \u2018nanny state\u2019 legislation will discourage […]<\/p>\n