PM Announces Six-month Moratorium on Evictions as Renters and Landlords Pushed to Breaking Point

PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON has announced a six-month moratorium on evictions as some fear they can’t afford the roof over their heads.

The current coronavirus relief model has been devised for renters experiencing hardship. 

Australian salon owners who rent will be able to stay in their homes in the event they experience hardship due to coronavirus and can’t pay rent.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a six-month moratorium on evictions.

After Sunday night’s National Cabinet meeting, the PM said it had been decided that governments would excuse people or businesses who were unable to meet rental commitments as a result of financial distress.

“State and Territories will be moving to put a moratorium on evictions of persons as a result of financial distress if they are unable to meet their commitments,” he said.

“And so there would be a moratorium on evictions for the next six months under those rental arrangements.”

Mr Morrison said there would be more details to come regarding decisions made on commercial and residential tenancies discussed at tonight’s meeting, saying the National Cabinet had agreed “on a series of principles, which I will release through a statement”.

He also indicated there was more work to be done to resolve tenancy issues, not only by the Government but by businesses, landlords and banks.

“My message to tenants, particularly commercial tenants, and commercial landlords, is a very straightforward one – we need you to sit down, talk to each other and work this out about looking at the businesses which have been closed, businesses that may have had a significant reduction in their revenues.

“We need landlords and tenants to sit down and come up with arrangements that enable them to get through this crisis so on the other side, the landlord has a tenant which is a business that can pay rent, and the business is a business that can re-emerge on the other side of this and be able to go on and employ people on the other side of these arrangements.”

Speaking to APAN’s lawyers Pointon Partners this morning, they also confirmed their support.

“We continue to see leasing negotiations occurring in the COVID-19 environment and we are achieving good results for both landlords and tenants,” they said. “In addition, the sub-lease/sub-license market is growing.” 

Pointon Partner Lawyers have a strong and experienced property team, so please feel free to contact them with any issues you may have.  

For any landlord or property issues please contact Michael Bishop on 03 9614 7707.  While Pointon Partner Lawyers’ head office is based in Melbourne they do have branches in other states.  Please call Michael Bishop and he can assist you also if you need to be referred to services in your state.