The Victorian Greens welcome new rent reforms that will ban no reason evictions, cap bonds and force landlords to provide evidence for bond claims, but say that the Victorian Labor government needs to make unlimited rent increases illegal if they really want to support renters.
After years of pressure from the Greens, the Victorian Labor government has today announced the new reforms for renters which the Greens say are a good start but we do still need to freeze and cap rents.
As stated by the Victorian Greens Renters’ Rights spokesperson, Gabrielle de Vietri:
“After a week of housing announcements that completely ignored renters, we’re glad Labor is finally acknowledging that renters exist.
“Finally Labor are coming to the table for renters but let’s be clear, the Greens had to drag them there.
“Just last weekend Labor insulted renters with a recycled announcement and after the Greens called them out for it, finally they’ve come back with something tangible.
“It’s good to finally see some movement for renters but let’s be clear – while landlords can still jack up the rent to their hearts desire, renters will still be drowning in rent payments.
“A massive rent increase for most renters is essentially a no-grounds eviction, and until Labor puts a cap on rent increases, renters will continue to live in overpriced, substandard, insecure housing.
“If Labor are serious about supporting renters, they should keep listening to the Greens and freeze rents now.”
