Queensland's leading real estate body is on a collision course with the state government over changes to rental tenancy agreements amid a housing crisis.
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The Real Estate Institute of Queensland is recommending come October 1, property managers issue a form 12 Notice to Leave document at the start of a fixed term tenancy agreement, in order to confirm the agreed end date of a tenancy agreement.
It is in response to Queensland's new rental laws that come into effect on October 1.
They include removal of 'without grounds' as a reason to end a tenancy, new parameters for property owners to end tenancies as well as new grounds for renters to end tenancies.
REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella says under the new tenancy laws, a failure to provide a form 12 within the required timeframe will result in a fixed term agreement defaulting to a periodic agreement after October 1.
She says it means "the lessor will effectively inherit a tenant for life" unless they can satisfy one of the limited prescribed grounds for ending a periodic agreement.
"It's been alleged that what we're suggesting is the eviction of tenants. Well, that's just outrageous, and quite frankly completely untrue," Ms Mercorella told AAP.
"Issuing the form 12 at the start of a fixed term tenancy agreement does nothing more than simply confirming that that agreement will end on the date that the parties have already agreed that it will end."
Should a property owner and tenant opt to enter into a new agreement prior to the end date, a new form 12 document would be issued with the new fixed term tenancy agreement.
Ms Mercorella said the REIQ gave forewarning to the government when the proposed legislative changes were introduced.
"I think they thought we wouldn't go through with it," she said.
But a spokesperson from the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy says issuing a notice to leave of a fixed term is inconsistent with a lessor trying to maintain a tenancy, and is not best practice.
"This practice is causing unnecessary stress for renters and could incur additional costs for rental property owners to replace renters they may otherwise have retained," they said.
"Long term tenancies benefit renters through stable and secure housing and rental property owners through stable income and fewer costs.
"We're committed to striking the right balance and to do this we will have conversations with Queenslanders to help inform the design of workable reforms."
Australian Associated Press
