Submission to the Review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997: Bonds, Rents and Other Charges

Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Bonds, rent and other charges Issues Paper (the Issues Paper) as part of the Residential Tenancies Act Review.

It is clear that provisions contained within the Act in relation to bonds, rent and other charges, requires significant revision. We were pleased to see the Issues Paper consider questions in relation to bonds, rents and other charges across the duration of the tenancy. As Hulse et al (2011) states: ‘affordability of rental housing both at the point of entry and across the duration of a tenancy is arguably the most significant structural factor affecting secure occupancy for lower-income households’.

Please note, this publication was published prior to CHP’s branding refresh in 2022.