Harcourts throws support behind Morrison’s moratorium on evictions

PHOTO: Harcourts Australia CEO Marcus Williams

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s recent announcement that all tenants would be offered a six-month moratorium on evictions has been welcomed by Harcourts.

Harcourts has welcomed the decision which aims to protect both commercial and residential tenants that are suffering financially due to stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harcourts Australia CEO Marcus Williams believes landlords and tenants need to sit together and work out a solution, while also highlighting the government should offer rent assistance to help those in financial duress due to COVID-19.

“We are bound by a duty of care to look after both parties — our landlords and our tenants — and the federal government already has a system in place, and it works well,” Mr Williams said.

“No one is evicting any tenants, but there’s massive job losses across Australia and the government has a solution already in place; it just needs to be fast-tracked as many other Centrelink payments are.”