Landlords will be BANNED from evicting tenants who can’t afford to pay their rent amid coronavirus economic crunch
- Landlords won’t be able to evict tenants struggling to pay rent due to COVID-19
- A rental rescue package is being drafted by federal and state governments
- Tenants who cannot pay rent because of financial hardship will be protected
- Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said landlords should not be left in the lurch
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Australian landlords won’t be allowed to evict tenants as part of a rental rescue package aimed at protecting those struggling throughout the coronavirus crisis.
State governments are reportedly working on the interventions to protect the eight million Aussies in rental homes.
Meanwhile the federal government is reportedly considering income tax cuts for landlords who reduce the rental amount that tenants must pay.
The Australian Financial Review cited sources on Thursday as saying state and federal treasurers were discussing the idea as a way of providing relief for renters struggling with personal finances amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The AFR reported that under the option property investors would need to waive or reduce rents and in turn pay less income tax.
A similar plan will likely be introduced to protect small business owners who cannot pay their rent due to forced closures under social distancing restrictions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison discussed the measures in a national cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders on Wednesday night.
It is likely any rescue packages will be announced in the coming days.
Tenants would need to prove they were suffering hardship as a direct result of the coronavirus crisis in order to avoid being evicted.
On Wednesday alone, some 280,000 people indicated they would need financial assistance from Centrelink.
Hundreds of thousands of hardworking Australians have been left jobless as a result of Mr Morrison’s tough stance on flattening the curve of the virus.
The prime minister closed pubs, bars, restaurants, cinemas and gyms earlier in the week before adding beauticians and food courts to the closures from Wednesday.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he understood the need to protect tenants during this difficult time – but didn’t want to see landlords who still have to pay their mortgages suffer as a result.
He said Mr Morrison would ‘take you through all of that’ when the relief package was announced.