RAHU’s 10 demands: 3 Month Review of the COVID-19 Omnibus Legislation
The Renters 3 Month Review outlines the issues renters faced during the first three months of the COVID-19 Omnibus legislation, and demonstrates the necessity of legislation extension and further amendments to avoid a wave of evictions in September.
Recommendations from the review: RAHU’s 10 demands
- An immediate and indefinite rent amnesty as long as the economic and health impacts of the pandemic continue.
- An immediate 12-month eviction ban preceding an independent evaluation of social and legal outcomes.
- Forgive all rental debts accrued due to the impacts of the pandemic with no fault or penalty.
- New and existing rent reduction agreements must be below 30% of tenants’ income and should persist for the length of the pandemic.
- Rent reductions, not deferrals.
- Renters in financial hardship who wish to break their lease shall recover their bond in full and have standard lease-breaking fees waived.
- A transparent and proportionate punitive response to landlords, agents and agencies who refuse to negotiate with renters in good faith, breach their duties and violate renters’ rights.
- Removal of Victoria Police from COVID-19 responses. The COVID-19 health crisis necessitates a healthcare and community driven response, not a carceral or military response.
- The Victorian Government to decontaminate existing unoccupied dwellings, with these to be used for quarantine and isolation for all who are affected, including homeless and displaced people.
- The State government to commit to improve and expand public housing. An end to the private-sector community-housing rort.
Contact: [email protected]
Renters and Housing Union Victoria is a newly formed rank-and-file union for renters and people in precarious housing. We organise collectively to fight for the right to safe and secure housing through self-advocacy, education, and frontline eviction defence.