25 August 2021
Greens call to extend moratorium on rental evictions
The State Government must move to protect renters experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 from eviction by extending the moratorium until next year, say the SA Greens.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic crisis has coincided with a rental affordability crisis in our state. More and more South Australians are struggling to find affordable housing than ever before. If you are a single person trying to live on the woefully inadequate JobSeeker payment there is not a single property that you can afford to rent. That is an outrage,” said the Greens Housing Spokesperson, Robert Simms MLC.
“In May, the parliament provided renters experiencing financial hardship with a reprieve when it bowed to pressure from the Greens and extended the moratorium on evictions until September but time is now running out. We don’t want to see people plunged into homelessness. I fear that with the moratorium due to expire next month, there is a ticking time bomb facing struggling renters. The Government has a moral responsibility to protect vulnerable South Australians during this crisis.”
“The Marshall Government must guarantee that no South Australian will be evicted into homelessness by extending the moratorium on evictions and rent hikes.”
Mr Simms will move the motion in Parliament below later today.
That this Council -
I. Notes the six-month extension to the short-term moratorium on eviction for non-payment of rent due to severe rental distress as a result of COVID-19 is due to expire on September 1;
II. Recognises that the pandemic continues to pose a serious threat to the security of South Australians;
III. Calls on the Marshall government to immediately:
a) guarantee that no South Australian renter will be evicted into homelessness, by extending the moratorium on eviction;
b) waive all rental debt accrued by renters impacted by COVID-19;
c) introduce permanent rent caps to limit annual rent increases;