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Government introduces housing legislation amendments

  • August 17, 2017

Government introduces housing legislation amendments

The Queensland Government has introduced the Housing Legislation (Building Better Futures) Amendment Bill 2017 into Parliament, which proposes amendments to the Retirement Villages Act 1999, Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003, Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002, Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, and Housing Act 2003.

Retirement Villages Act 1999
Proposed amendments to the Retirement Villages Act are the culmination of the review that commenced in 2012.  The Property Council has been heavily involved in the Ministerial working party that was tasked with reviewing the legislation, and has provided ongoing feedback and submissions throughout the review process.

Amendments contained in the Bill include:

  • An 18 month buyback provision
  • A requirement on retirement village operators to prepare a closure plan, and have it approved by the Department
  • A requirement on existing scheme operators to give the Department notice and seek approval to transfer control of a retirement village to another entity
  • Behavioural standards for residents and operators
  • Changes to pre-contractual disclosure
  • A requirement for unit condition reports to be prepared
  • Changes to how retirement village budgets are prepared along with the setting of the general services charge
  • A requirement to prepare a redevelopment plan, and have it approved by the Department

Many of the proposed amendments will require retirement village operators to use an approved form.  We understand that the Department will release and consult on the approved forms once the legislation has been passed.

Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003
The Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003 has also been under review for a number of years.  The Government is proposing amendments to the Act that include:

  • Pre-contractual disclosure requirements
  • Restrictions on increasing site rent
  • Behavioural standards for residents and site owners
  • Prohibiting administrative fees for the provision of utilities, including meter reading

Minimum rental standards
The Bill also includes amendments to the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002, Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, and Housing Act 2003.  The Government is proposing to prescribe minimum housing standards for private rental accommodation as part of the amendments.

The Bill has been referred to the Public Works and Utilities Parliamentary Committee for review. The Committee’s report is due to be tabled in Parliament by 28 September 2017. The Property Council will review the amendments in detail and provide a submission to the Committee.

To access the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Notes, click here.