.jpg)
Rent Relief for Low-Income Private Renters: Connecting the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Australia's Housing Crisis.
The conversation around Australia’s housing crisis continues to grab headlines this week as various states and political parties grapple to solve the problem of housing our people. With winter fast approaching, those living in unreliable accommodation, and those living without safe housing do not have the luxury of time as this issue continues to be debated and delayed.
The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework for decision-making in our country. The right to adequate housing, as stated in the UDHR, and the SDGs' commitment to assuring access to affordable, safe, and sustainable housing for all, in particular, highlight the importance of addressing the housing crisis.
Australia can show its commitment to these principles while also providing a temporary solution to the rental crisis by giving rent relief to those earning less than the average income as we replenish our public housing stock and provide a long term and sustainable solution. This approach acknowledges the critical role that private landlords play in housing provision, while also recognising that they should not carry the entire burden of resolving the rental crisis. Many Australian residential landlords are average citizens who own one property and earn around $80,000 per year. By offering rent relief to low-income private renters, the government can support these landlords without overburdening them with the responsibility of housing citizens.
As Australia faces a significant housing crisis, with a growing shortage of affordable homes and an increasing number of people experiencing homelessness, it is essential to explore innovative solutions to address these challenges. One such proposal is to provide rent relief to low-income private renters, thereby removing some of the public expectation off private landlords and allowing time for public housing stock to be replenished. The current public housing policy is that no tenant should be paying more that 25% of their combined household income in rent: as we currently do not have the required public housing stock to protect our most vulnerable members of our community, this policy needs to be extended temporarily to help all low-income renters meet our rental obligations.
Clearly there would need to be limits to the amount of rent a person is entitled to pay and still receive the rent assistance. For example, if they are renting a property that is more than 10% above the average rent for their area, then the difference between the public housing limit and the amount that is above 10% rate needs to be covered by the tenant. And landlords would need to be required to submit profit and loss statements for their rental property to ensure there is no price gouging during this period of support.
Providing rent relief has several benefits:
Rent relief for low-income earners: financial relief can help low-income earners maintain stable housing and reduce the risk of homelessness.
Support for residential landlords: Rent relief can protect the investments of landlords, many of whom are average Australians seeking to create wealth for their families and reduce their reliance on social security services in the future.
Incentive for replenishing public housing stock: Rent relief can buy time for the government to invest in increasing the supply of affordable public housing.
However, implementing rent relief also raises concerns and challenges:
Administrative complexity: Rent relief would require significant administrative resources from the government and landlords. Some of the resources currently being used to manage the housing crisis could be diverted to these services.
Government funding: The cost of rent relief would initially place a financial burden on the government, requiring funding from taxation or other sources. However, the future contributions of safely housed and educated citizens would significantly reduce this debt in the future.
Fairness and equity: Determining the appropriate income threshold and rental limits for assistance may raise concerns about fairness and equity among tenants and landlords. Understanding the UDHR and SDG’s and our nations commitment to these principles will reduce some of the potential confusion here. When societies meet the conditions outlined in documents like the UDHR and the SDGs, they can experience a wide range of benefits, including improved quality of life, reduced poverty and inequality, enhanced social cohesion, economic growth, environmental sustainability, strengthened democracy, and increased global cooperation. These positive transformations contribute to a more just, equitable, and sustainable world for all.
The long-term benefits of having well-housed and safe citizens cannot be underestimated. By aligning Australia's actions with the values enshrined in the UDHR and the SDGs, we can work towards creating a more equitable and inclusive society. Implementing rent relief for low-income private renters is a step towards addressing the housing crisis while acknowledging the shared responsibility of the government, private landlords, and society as a whole.
Comments