Further support for ACT tenants and landlords to be extended if lockdown extends

The ACT government has urged residential landlords and tenants facing pandemic-related financial distress to work together amid the ongoing lockdown.

While the state government didn’t announce any financial payments for those facing financial hardship, reports said the government would consider further support for tenants and landlords should lockdown extend beyond September 2.

“The current extended lockdown may present challenges for some in our community, particularly tenants who have been financially impacted by public health directions,” said ACT chief minister Andrew Barr.

“The ACT government will continue to monitor the impacts of this COVID outbreak on landlords and tenants, and consider whether further support is necessary.”

ACT attorney general Shane Rattenbury encouraged landlords to consider negotiating a “temporary rent reduction or a rent arrears payment plan” with tenants who have been financially impacted by the COVID-induced lockdown.

“I encourage tenants to communicate with their landlord if they are experiencing financial difficulty and if they can’t make full rent payment,” Mr Rattenbury said.

Some of the measures implemented during the initial lockdown in 2020 included a moratorium on evictions and a rent reduction scheme which saw residential landlords receive a land tax rebate if they agreed to reduce their tenants’ rent by at least 25 per cent.

Mr Rattenbury also asked tenants to assist landlords by facilitating virtual inspections where necessary and called for patience if there were delays to repairs.

The announcement came after discussions with the Canberra real estate lobby group, Real Estate Institute of the ACT, closed on Wednesday with further clarity on what the real estate industry could do amid lockdown.

Under the revised rules for real estate, only one agency staff member will be allowed to attend an existing listing for the purpose of creating a virtual video tour or take photos on one occasion only.  The signing of contracts can also be done in person if it is essential.

Agents holding online auctions are now permitted to conduct these at the agency premises, as a last-resort option, with a maximum of three staff on-site, including the auctioneer.