There is a motion before the ACT Legislative Assembly on 23 March 2022 which "calls on the ACT Government to consider whether prospective tenants should be given the right to receive references from landlords’ previous tenants."
The motion is broadly framed and does not outline what might be required.
In practice, allowing prospective tenants to request references from previous tenants may not be particularly helpful if those tenants do not wish to, or cannot, provide references in a timely manner. A better approach may be to provide details of the ACAT (or QCAT in Qld's case) matters involving the landlord in the past three years.
The ABC reports that "If the motion is passed, prospective renters in Canberra would have the right to request a landlord reference from a previous tenant, detailing their treatment by the landlord."
Not exactly. The motion calls on the ACT Government to consider the issue and "report back to the Assembly on this matter during the November 2022 sitting period."
Any change in ACT would seem a long way off.
In any event, landlords who treat their tenants fairly and make necessary repairs in a timely manner should have little to fear.
March 2022
© PELEN 2022
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