As the aftermath of the Queensland floods begins to impact, the need for tenants and landlords to work together to alleviate the situation becomes more pressing. The good news is that, in general, the signs are encouraging.
It is often said that good can come from bad and while no-one underestimates the size of the calamity and desolation felt by those who have lost loved ones in the waters; it does appear that the community is rallying round and displaying a determination to look out for each other over the coming weeks.
The need for landlords and tenants to work with each other in situations such as those in Queensland at the moment, is of course, extremely important. The Property Owners association (POA) and the Residential Tenants Association (RTA) are working closely together to protect the interests of their members, and Housing Minister Karen Struthers, has brought together a team of advisers and enforcers to get Brisbane in particular, back on its feet.
The immediate problem for landlords is their loss of income and the massive repair bills they face to get their properties back into shape. Never before in Queensland has landlord insurance been so welcome.
The problem for tenants is even more pressing, many of them are homeless. Minister Struthers has asked all landlords on the outer ring of the tragedy not to benefit from the misery of others by hiking their rental charges and has reminded all concerned that under the present situation either landlord or tenant can end a contract immediately if a property is uninhabitable because of a natural disaster.
The Government are also alleviating the situation by handing out bond loans to tenants so they can move into properties immediately without the landlord losing out. All in all the citizens of Queensland look to be bearing up to the challenges they now face very well. There have been few if any reports of looting, the people living in the recovery centres appear to be settling in with their fellow refugees and the State Government appears to be doing all it can to ease the suffering of those affected. They may prove to be a reference point for towns and cities in the UK if the worst should ever happen over here.