Fur is flying in the Apple Isle, with the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania (REIT) launching a campaign to help landlords to urge the State Government to reconsider proposed pets in rentals legislation.
REIT Chief Executive, Michelle Tynan, said the Hear Our Voice campaign, was all about giving landlords an opportunity to have their say.
“The campaign ist through our members and going out to private investment property owners in our rental space here in Tasmania,” she said.
“So those agencies that have rental portfolios, they’re participating by distributing the access to the portal so that their clients can have their say around the pets in rentals residential tenancy amendments that were tabled on the 18th of June down here in Tasmania.”
Ms Tynan said under the proposed changes, tenants would not have to apply to their landlord in order to have a pet, they could simply notify the property owner they were getting one.
She said it would then be up to the landlord to dispute the tenant having a pet, they would need to lodge an objection with the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT).
She also raised concerns that the drafted bill doesn’t make it necessary for tenants to pay a pet bond, or to have the carpets cleaned at the end of the lease.
Nor is there provision for the landlord to stipulate whether the pet needs to be kept inside or outside.
“We’re not against pets in property, that’s not what this is about,” Ms Tynan said.
“We already have about 50 to 60 per cent of rental providers allowing pets.
“But they’re given the choice and then they can actually say what type of pet.”
Ms Tynan said Tasmanian landlords had been flooding their local MPs offices, urging them to reconsider the legislation and provide them with a safety net.
“Our overwhelming response from investors has been, ‘We’re out. We’re selling’,” she said.
“We’ve also had notification from our members that investors are walking away from buying investments until the legislation is known.
‘In Tasmania only 9 per cent of sales, at the moment, are for investment properties, and that’s dropped from 18 per cent this time last year.”
When the Tasmanian Government tabled the proposed legislation, Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs, Madeleine Ogilvie, said the changes to the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 were about ensuring Tasmanians would not have to choose between a place to live, and the pet they love.
“As part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, we are amending the law so that owners will not be permitted to unreasonably reject applications from prospective tenants because they have a pet,” Ms Ogilvie said.
“Under the Amendment, current and future tenants will be able to keep pets, as long as the tenant notifies the owner.
“We want to get the balance right which is why the owner can object and apply to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (the Tribunal) within 28 days of the notification.
“The Bill also provides an avenue for an owner to withdraw consent and to seek an order from the Tribunal that a pet must be removed in the event of a pet causing a nuisance, damage over and above reasonable wear and tear, posing an unacceptable safety risk or other reasonable grounds.”
Landlords who want to have their say can contact their REIT member property management agency, who will be able to connect them to the online portal to voice their views.
