We have created a COVID-19 discussion forum to put members in contact with other members in a shared and safe place. The forum is designed to support the information that is already out there and which ARAMA sends on a regular basis.
I am in awe of the resilience and stoutness of our amazing members. I do not need to tell members how difficult these last few months have been and yet I have the privilege of working closely with the most amazing group of people who have ever collected together in the one industry.
All of our valued Resident Managers have experienced unprecedented levels of stress and pressure both financial and social and yet for the most part choose to remain upbeat, diligent and outcome focussed. Many Resident Managers have been under pressure and sometimes feeling attacked from many different directions all at once. Many of our short stay accommodation operators have lost 100% of their income from letting and many of our long stay accommodation operators are being placed under enormous pressure from tenants and landlords in relation to rent reductions or even worse. On top of this many are feeling besieged by a small yet noisy group of lot owners who are demanding that they discount their Caretaking Service remuneration at a time when they have never worked harder – for less.
And then there are our valuable service providers, suppliers and professionals many of whom are really having to tough it out as they usually rely on a large portion of their income from Resident Managers who are also struggling.
This sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? And yet I am detecting a certain calm reassurance creeping into everyday conversations that I am privileged to enjoy with members.
As we emerge through this horrific period and as Governments begin to wind back the travel and social restrictions that our industry is crying out for we can see light and hope and that is what we are focussed on. The future, not the past.
My team and I are privileged to provide service with a smile to the most amazing men and women whom I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
We all need hope and to focus on a brighter future. The recovery has commenced, get ready for the party to start.
Best wishes to you, your family and your staff team, we hope you stay safe and well.
Thank you, it has been a privilege !
Trevor Rawnsley CEO
Queensland begins relaxing some public health directions
Amendments to Residential Tenancy laws in Queensland take effect.
From 29th March 2020, until 29 September 2020 (or earlier, in the event that the COVID-19 emergency ends earlier) a tenant cannot be evicted for failure to pay rent if that failure relates to the tenant suffering excessive hardship. It is important to realise that this is not a get out of jail free care for tenants. Tenants can still be evicted for doing the wrong thing on other grounds. As ARAMA has maintained all along you can ask reasonable questions to determine if a Tenant qualifies for financial hardship
Several of Victoria’s rental law reforms will be delayed from coming into effect for six months amid the coronavirus crisis. All 130 amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act — which included introducing minimum standards for properties, allowing renters to make minor modifications to their homes, and banning no-reason evictions — were due to come into force by July 1. But the Victorian state government has now stated it will postpone the start date of a number of the reforms to January 1, 2021. Some of them have already come into effect, with Victorian landlords notably blocked from “unreasonably” preventing tenants from keeping pets and rent rises limited to once a year
ARAMA is committed to helping its members all the time - especially in times of crisis. We will continue to adapt our benefits to meet the changing needs of our valued members.
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