Submission: Minimum standards for rental properties and occupancy law reform

In July 2024, the ACT Government released a consultation paper on minimum standards for rental properties and occupancy law reform. The purpose of this consultation was to seek community views about how the ACT’s tenancy and occupancy laws can be improved and what minimum standards should be introduced to offer better protections.

ACTCOSS’s submission supports the inclusion of a prescribed list of minimum standards for rental properties and occupancies under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. Our submission recommends a staged and scalable approach to the roll out of minimum energy efficiency standards in the ACT in line with the Community Sector Blueprint: National Framework for Minimum Energy Efficiency Rental Requirements.

Our submission supports strengthening protections for occupants under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. Occupants are often among the most marginalised and vulnerable members of our community who lack other housing options, whether due to a crisis or due to enduring circumstances. Noting the diversity of views and occupancy types that exist, our submission recommends that the ACT Government undertake further consultation with stakeholders on the occupancy law reforms proposed in the consultation paper.