Southern Metropolitan Region
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:32): (227) My question is for the Minister for Housing. One of my constituents, Sarah, recently had a rent increase of $40 a week, and she elected to move jobs to reduce her travel costs rather than try and find a new rental in this market. Sarah is now also getting shamed and made to feel unwelcome in her home. Sarah told us that whenever staff from the real estate agency are at the property, they comment on how many things that she owns as if forgetting that Sarah has a right, living there, to be afforded basic respect and dignity. Like many renters, Sarah remains silent – ever fearful that agents could recommend yet another unaffordable rent rise or to change tenants to her landlord. As with many other people in my electorate who rent, Sarah would like to know when the government plans to start supporting renters rights, such as by freezing rent for two years and regulating the short-stay market.