Constituency questions
Southern Metropolitan Region
Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (12:51): (467) My question is to the Minister for Consumer Affairs. Can she provide an update on how the Allan Labor government is expanding renter protections for the many renters in the Southern Metropolitan Region? We know that across Victoria more people are renting than ever before, and for longer. In the last 10 years, the number of rental properties in our state has increased by more than 32 per cent, and demand is skyrocketing. We know the best thing we can do to make rental properties more affordable, just like all forms of housing, is to build more housing. Over the next decade we have committed to building 800,000 homes, and I have spoken before about what we are doing in the build-to-rent sector as well. We know that everyone has the right to safe, secure and affordable housing, whether they own it or not, and we are improving protections for renters. Portable rental bonds, banning rental bidding, a new disputes body, longer notice periods and mandatory training for property managers – under the Victorian Labor government renters will not be left out in the cold.