Joel Dignam, executive director of advocacy group Better Renting, shares his views on Anglicare’s Rental Affordability Snapshot, published last week. Once again, the Snapshot showed that housing in the national capital is unaffordable for many, particularly for people on welfare – and is getting worse, even though the ACT has some of the most protective rental legislation in the country.
- Anglicare: ACT’s ‘significant crisis’ of rental affordability (27 April)
- Mark Parton: Flawed Labor / Greens policy caused ACT housing crisis (28 April)
When it comes to housing, it’s not enough to just try, or have better tenancy laws than some other jurisdictions. The outcome we need is that people can afford decent homes. Until we get there, there is more work for this government, and it should be a key priority for [Chief Minister] Andrew Barr.
While the government has been pulling different levers, one they are neglecting is a capital injection to help build more public housing in the ACT. This is crucial if we are to bring rents back under control. The government should also look at strong rent controls that prevent excessive increases.
We hear from many renters where the cost of housing in the ACT is basically making it impossible for people to live here – I’ve heard from people who have simply had to up stumps and leave. Others are constantly trading off between essentials just to get by, or living in a miserable, substandard home.
The Commonwealth Government could make a big difference for renters by increasing JobSeeker in the upcoming federal budget on May 9.
Finally, on Friday we saw National Cabinet commit to action to boost renters’ rights across the country. [Housing Ministers will develop a proposal for National Cabinet in the second half of 2023 outlining reforms to strengthen renters’ rights across the country, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced.]
If done properly, this can make a big difference. Every jurisdiction should end no grounds terminations, as the ACT has done. They should also implement rent controls to stop landlords profiteering from an essential service.
