REIQ Template Landlord Letter to QLD Premier

STEP ONE: Copy paste the below template letter into an email.

STEP TWO: Insert your name at the end of the letter in your email.

STEP THREE: Copy and paste the following subject header into your email: Urgent Review of Special COVID-19 Residential Property Protections

STEP FOUR: Copy and paste Premier Palaszczuk's email address into the recipient area in your email: thepremier@premiers.qld.gov.au

STEP FIVE: Press send.

The Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP

Premier of Queensland,

Department of the Premier and Cabinet,

1 William Street,

Brisbane QLD 4000

Urgent Review of Special COVID-19 Protections for Residential Tenants and Owners

Dear Premier,

As one of Queensland's investment property owners, I am writing to express my serious concerns in respect of your Government's proposed Special COVID-19 Protections for Residential Tenants and Owners ("Renter Protection Package"). I implore you to reconsider aspects of the Renter Protection Package and to create a more balanced and fairer framework that provides better protection measures for both renters and property owners like myself.

While I support the protection of tenants who are in financial distress due to this pandemic, the scope of the Renter Protection Package is too broad in its application. I am calling on your Government to amend the following aspects of the Renter Protection Package:

• Introduce rent deferrals rather than permanent rent waiver rights for tenants. This aligns with the Federal Government model and framework adopted/being adopted in other jurisdictions;

• Introduce a minimum income reduction threshold for tenants to meet before they qualify for the protection measures. In New South Wales, a 25% income reduction requirement applies;

• Introduce a standard requirement for tenants to substantiate a rent reduction request to allow landlords to make properly informed and fair decisions about rent reductions;

• Introduce clear guidelines on property entry requirements, and broaden the range of activities allowed to continue, subject to applicable safety and hygiene protocols;

• Remove the proposed break lease right that allows tenants to simply walk away from tenancy agreements with only 1 weeks' notice notwithstanding that those tenants are afforded all the other protections provided under the Renter Protection Package; and,

• Remove the proposed automatic right to a 6-month tenancy agreement extension which in effect introduces a 12-month moratorium in Queensland with the consequential imposition of permanent rent waivers that would be extended over this additional period.

As a property owner, I am also entitled to be supported by special regulatory protections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your Government's proposed protections ignore my rights, take away my ability to derive critical income and take away control over an asset I've worked so hard to acquire. I strongly urge your Government to reconsider these damaging amendments, in favour of protections that offer a better balance of security and stability to property owners and tenants alike.

Yours sincerely, <insert name>

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