REIQ says Queensland Greens rental policy would 'decimate' rights of landlords

The state’s real estate industry body has hit out at the Greens for a recently unveiled rental policy, which it said was “ludicrous” and would decimate landlords’ rights.

Queensland Greens plan to introduce measures that would give renters the right to seek unlimited leases on properties, paint walls without consent, and impose rent control as part of the terms of a lease.

The proposed policy would also introduce a rule that would mean landlords would have to provide 12 months notice for an eviction, with some exceptions.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland chief executive Antonia Mercorella launched a blistering attack on Thursday, suggesting that shifting the balance of power any further toward renters would send property investors running.

“It’s simply unrealistic to expect that landlords will continue to invest in real estate if they are faced with untenable arrangements that don’t allow them to protect the value of their asset and strip them of fundamental rights,” she said.

The REIQ also said a policy of not allowing unilateral termination of a leases at the sale of a rental property would cut owner-occupiers out of the equation.

Greens candidate for the state seat of South Brisbane, Amy MacMahon, denied the Greens had a vendetta against landlords.

“It’s important to remember that a lot of people are experiencing mortgage stress,” she said. “We’ve got this systemic issue with access to housing.

“I think this policy doesn’t necessarily deter people from buying and renting out multiple houses. It just ensures renters are treated with dignity.”

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Ms MacMahon said the measures were designed to increase the security of housing for renters, who can be evicted without cause for with just a month’s notice under the state’s current laws, can’t hang pictures or have pets without a landlord’s permission.

“I would say the legislative framework at the moment is not at all balanced,” she said. “Renters are really suffering. Not just financially, but socially and ethically.”

Ms Mercorella said current regulations could be changed, though.

“What we need is a regulatory framework that supports those goals. A balance must be found and it won’t be found if the Greens have their way,” she said.

The REIQ, which represents the state’s real estate agents, did not offer alternative measures to balance tenants and landlords’ rights.

Ms Mercorella pointed to regional rental markets, where vacancy rates were high and investors struggled to get a tenant, to show landlords didn’t hold all the power.

Ms MacMahon expected the criticism. “It’s not surprising that an industry body would want to preserve the status quo,” she said. “Considering more Queenslanders are relying on renting, we need to make some serious changes.

“There’s a huge number of people who are renting in Queensland, in Brisbane it’s about 36 per cent of people.”