GOVERNMENT has unveiled a package of measures to implement a freeze on evictions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Housing Minister and Springwood MP Mick de Brenni said these measures would affect many people in the Redlands, Capalaba and Springwood areas which have more than 12,000 rental properties.
New protections now mean that property owners will be prohibited from evicting a tenant if their lease expires during the COVID-19 crisis. A tenant must extend their lease for at least a further six months.
Alternatively, if a tenant cannot pay rent due to impacts of coronavirus and wants to end their lease early, they will be allowed to do so.
"Neither landlords or tenants are to blame for this, and now is the time for them to work through this together to get out to the other side of this pandemic," Mr de Brenni said.
Redlands MP Kim Richards said about one in four people were living in rental properties in the Redlands.
"We need tenant and property owners to work together during this public health emergency," Ms Richards said.
"Many Queenslanders are doing it tough, and we want to take any concerns about where they are going to live off a long list of worries," she said.
New rental support criteria is now in place for rental grants of up to four weeks rent, or a maximum of $2,000.
This is a last resort specifically for Queenslanders in need of support while they are waiting for federal government support to prevent homelessness.
Member for Capalaba Don Brown said the package is much needed during this unprecedented event.
"Tenants and owners should go to the online rental hub launched today to get all of the information and resources needed for discussions between property owners and renters," Mr Brown said.
For those that can't reach an agreement, there will be compulsory conciliation for COVID-related disputes between tenants and landlords through the Residential Tenancies Authority.
In asking tenants and property owners to find a solution that works for all parties, the RTA will have clear guidelines that prohibit a requirement to draw on superannuation or sell basic personal assets.
