Rent defaulters laughing under Labor changes

Serial rent defaulters are enjoying even more no-pay accommodation under Labor’s so-called reforms to the State’s complaints tribunal system, the State Opposition said today.

LNP Leader John-Paul Langbroek said the Bligh Government’s new centralised ‘super tribunal’ was already running months behind in hearing rental complaints.

“It was only established in December, yet this week we learn it is unable to hear urgent applications for non-payment of rents for at least three months,” Mr Langbroek said.

“This is giving serial rent defaulters a three-month holiday on paying.

“Landlords are already suffering under the mega amalgamation of the tribunal system and I know of instances where complaints lodged in early January will not be heard before April.

“Residential property managers have told me that under the previous system, complaints were heard in three to four weeks, but are now taking three to four months.

“At a time of severe accommodation shortages in many areas this sort of lengthy delay in hearing matters will act as a deterrent to owners looking to rent out properties.”

Mr Langbroek said another major issue with Labor’s ‘super tribunal’ know as QCAT – Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal – was the increase in red tape.

“Paperwork to lodge complaints has more than tripled from four to 14 pages …this is so typical of Bligh Labor reforms that actually add to complexity, administrative workloads and costs.”