The Queensland government is reassuring tenants concerned about how to make rent during this time.
On the 29th of March, Queensland State Treasurer Jackie Trad said the government had set up a grant program that offers emergency rental assistance payment of up to $500/week
The grant system is for Queenslanders in the private rental market who have lost jobs or are not going to get any income support from Centrelink until at least the 27th of April. The weekly payment will go on for up to four weeks.
The payments can be accessed by calling the Residential Tenancies Authority on 1800 497 161
Another incentive the state government has planned is a moratorium on evictions. This will be for people who have been genuinely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The government will backdate the eviction moratorium in Queensland to the 29th of March.
However, Ms. Trad clarified that this is not a blanket prohibition and property owners can still evict tenants in cases such as significant damage to a property.
Ms. Trad added, “But where you have lost your job, your hours have been cut, and where you genuinely cannot make your rent, you will not be evicted and we will guarantee that by law and we will also help you make up the shortfall in terms of your rent payments until you start getting some income support, or hopefully get another job.”
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