Committee hands down report on Housing Amendments

 Queensland Parliament’s Public Works and Utilities Committee has released their report into the Housing Legislation (Building Better Futures) Amendment Bill 2017.

The Bill proposes to amend the Housing Act 2003, Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003, Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002, Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, and the Retirement Villages Act 1999. 

The Committee has recommended the passage of the Bill and provided 18 recommendations for the Government to consider. The recommendations do not represent any significant departure from the Bill as drafted and are primarily requests for ongoing departmental monitoring of areas of stakeholder concern.

The Property Council appeared before the Committee’s inquiry and has been engaging with the Government on the provisions in the Bill. Whilst the Property Council supports many of the policy interventions, concerns have been outlined about how they are proposed to be implemented through the amendments.

In responding to Property Council concerns, the Committee has recommended a maximum 90 day timeframe for the Department to reach a decision through the new redevelopment plan approval process under proposed section 113F(4) of the Retirement Villages Act 1999. 

The Property Council’s submission can be accessed here.