COMMENT: Will level one mean level one for residential landlords?

The Covid-19 Response (Urgent Management) Act, that went through Parliament and was given Royal Assent in a single day (May 25, 2020) was intended to “put in place the necessary arrangements in order to implement Covid-19 alert level four”.

Schedule 5 of this Act spells out the draconian measures that froze or changed rental property processes to do with unpaid rent and tenancy terminations for three months. These include measures that mean:

1.      Tenants can stop paying rent for 60 days before any consequences. This is up from 21 days.

2.      Owners face a fine of $6,500 if they give notice or apply to terminate a tenancy.