If you are being inundated with water or suffering damage from storms or cyclones your tenancy may be affected. This fact sheet is for residential tenancies however most of this information also applies to rooming accommodation such as boarding houses. It also contains contact details of your local Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service.
For further information click on the following link:
Info for tenants affected by floods cyclones w taas contacts
After a long wait the Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness Services) has released the Tenant Participation Program Review Summary Report and Recommendations.
The Tenant Participation program provides opportunities for social housing tenants to gain skills and engage with their housing provider and local community. To find out more about the future of the program click here
To read the Tenant Participation Program Review Summary Report and Recommendations click here.
The Tenants’ Union of Queensland provides a free statewide advice and advocacy service for all tenants. This statewide service operates 9am-4pm Mon to Fri and til 7pm on Tue and Wed evenings. This service operates on a single line - if the line is engaged the advice worker is speaking with another tenant. Callers can try calling at another time or can contact their local tenant advice and advocacy service (TAAS).
More and more Australians are finding it hard to get a home they can afford, whether they’re renting or buying. Many households report significant housing stress with over 740,000 renters and more than 380,000 mortgaged home owners paying more than they can afford. Despite significant investment in recent years, there is less public and community housing propoerties now than there was in 2003.
Australians for Affordable Housing has just launched a campaign to challenge Australian governments to address housing affordability – the single biggest cost of living issue facing Australians. Visit their website at www.housingstressed.org.au to support the campaign and to share your housing story.
The Tenants’ Union statewide service and local TAAS services provide free advice and advocacy services for tenants and residents in Queensland.
In Queensland the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 is the legislation that covers all residential tenancies in Queensland, including general tenancies (flats, units houses etc), rooming accommodation and moveable dwelling (caravan park) tenancies.
The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is the Queensland government authority that oversees the Act. The RTA provides services for all parties, including lessors, agents, providers, tenants and residents.
The RTA holds tenant bonds during the tenancy and provides an infomation service, a free dispute resolution service and tenancy forms and publications. The RTA can investigate complaints about failure to comply with the Act, such as failure to lodge rental bonds or provide written agreements.
In Queensland if parties cannot resolve a tenancy dispute they can apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) for a tenancy hearing. For more information see going to the Tribunal for a tenancy matter . Information and QCAT forms are available on the QCAT website.
The Queensland Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness) provides a range of programs to assist people looking for rental housing, renting in the private market or renting government or community managed housing (social housing).
Private rental assistance programs include bond loans, rent connect and the National Rental Affodability Scheme (NRAS).
The Rent Connect program helps people in Queensland find and secure a tenancy in the private rental market. Rent Connect also has a series of fact sheets with tips on looking for rental accommodation.
Social housing programs include public housing and community managed housing. A range of fact sheets are available online, with information about eligibility guidelines and how to apply for social housing.
You can visit your local Housing Services Office for more information
The RTA website includes median rent data for Queensland suburbs and regions.
If you are homeless and need assistance contact the Homeless Persons Information Queensland (HPIQ) freecall 1800 4747 53. You can also contact your local Housing Services office.
When calling an advice service free interpreter assistance can be provided if needed. When you contact an advice service let the service know if you need an interpreter. Alternately you can call the TIS interpreter service directly on 131 450 and ask them to connect you to an advice service.
Information in other languages is also available on the RTA website.
Rooming accommodation information is also available in other languages on the Inner North TAAS Student Renting Rights website.
Recent research has shown that women over 45 may experience life changes that can affect their housing. Loss of income, changes in family relationships, illness or bereavement can impact on women’s housing tenure.
In response the Office of Women invited the Tenants’ Union of Queensland, to run a series of renting information sessions for older women and for people who are assisting them.
The Tenants’ Union ran five workshops; Toowoomba, Ipswich, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Cairns.
Over 50 women attended the sessions and shared their experiences of how separation, bereavement, job loss, family breakdown and low incomes affected their housing choices.
Participants went away with a show bag of resources and new information about housing options and services that can assist with renting advice and housing services.
Any tenants seeking renting advice can call the Tenants’ Union of Queensland free advice service on 1300 744 263. Tenants or prospective tenants can also contact their local Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS) for tenancy advice and housing referral.
