Residential Tenancy (Extension of Emergency Period) Order (No. 2) 2020 (TAS)

The Residential Tenancy (Extension of Emergency Period) Order (No. 2) 2020 was made by Elise Archer, the Minister for Building and Construction, under the authority of the Residential Tenancy Act 1997. The order extends the emergency period related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was initially set to expire on 30 September 2020, to 1 December 2020. This extension was intended to provide further relief to residential tenants and landlords affected by the pandemic. The order was published in the Gazette on 24 September 2020 and took effect from 1 October 2020.

The primary legal issue addressed in this order was the need to extend the emergency measures put in place to protect residential tenants and landlords during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures were initially implemented to provide relief to those impacted by the economic and social disruptions caused by the pandemic. The extension sought to continue this support, ensuring that vulnerable parties in the rental market were protected for a longer period.

The court's reasoning for extending the emergency period was based on the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the residential tenancy market. The extended period was necessary to provide continued relief to tenants and landlords who were still facing financial and other difficulties due to the pandemic. By extending the emergency period, the court aimed to alleviate some of the pressures and uncertainties faced by those in the rental market during these challenging times.

The final order extended the emergency period for residential tenancies in Tasmania from 30 September 2020 to 1 December 2020, providing additional time for affected parties to recover and adapt to the ongoing situation.