Australian Greens: Bold plan to give Victorian renters a fairer go

The Victorian Greens have launched a bold plan that would increase the power of renters across the state and ensure they have access to long-term secure and affordable housing. 

The Greens intend to take this plan to the upcoming state election in a bid to help solve the housing crisis and give renters in Victoria a fairer go.

The plan would see:

• Rent increases controlled in line with wage growth
• A Housing Ombudsman established to empower renters by monitoring estate agents’ compliance with the law and helping renters to enforce their rights
• New rental standards for energy efficiency and cooling
• Stronger protections against unfair evictions and providing for long-term leases so renters can make their rentals their homes
• Better regulation of estate agents to stop unfair practices, and invasions of privacy

Almost one in three Victorians are renters, yet rents are currently going up four times faster than wages and too many renters are paying more than 30 per cent of their pay check in rent.

There are still too many substandard properties on the rental market and renters are struggling to keep their homes warm and cool without being slapped with huge power bills.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam, said with the rental market as tight as it is now, renters are finding themselves at a disadvantage compared to property managers who rely on a system weighted against them.

She said by overhauling the system with the Greens’ new renters package, renters across the state would be given stronger rights and protections and be able to stay in their rentals long-term.

Quotes attributable to Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam MLC:

“Almost one in three Victorians are renters yet many are paying more than 30 per cent of their pay check in rent – the definition of unaffordable housing.

“This is unacceptable. Estate agents should not be able to hike up rents faster than wage growth and put countless Victorians in a situation where they face insecure housing or eviction.

“Our plan would see rent increases controlled so they remain affordable for Victorians, stronger protections from evictions, and longer-term leases so renters can make their rentals their homes.

“We also want to fix the power imbalance between renters and estate agents by establishing a Housing Ombudsman to help enforce renters rights and make sure estate agents are complying with the law.

“We can make housing affordable with a system that puts people first.”