RENTING and your home was damaged – What to do…

RENTING and your home was damaged – What to do…

FACTS SHEETS CAN BE FOUND HERE

What you need to do.

Technically, you do not have to leave the house until the landlord gives you a Form 12.

The Notice to leave (Form 12) is used when the lessor/agent is giving notice to the tenant/s to vacate the premises.

The form is completed and signed by the lessor/agent and given to the tenant/s. It may only be given in accordance with the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008.

If you receive this form as a tenant, it means that the lessor/agent is giving notice that the tenant must move out of the premises by the handover date stated in the notice. This may be for a number of reasons.

If you dispute the reasons on which this notice was given, you should first try to resolve the issue by contacting the party who gave the notice. If attempts to resolve the issue fail, the tenant can access the RTA's Dispute Resolution Service by lodging a Dispute resolution request (Form 16) with the RTA.

If tenants fail to leave the premises by the handover day, the lessor/agent may apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) for a termination order without giving the tenant any further notification. If the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) makes a termination order, an order for possession will be granted to the lessor at the same time.

You should get a letter from the landlord determining if you are going to be able to return to the house. Ask them to include in the letter when they believes that you will be able to go back to the house.

You need it in writing not verbal!!!

They can fax this to you at the MARSS office on 07 46237572 if you do not have a fax machine and you can pick it up at the MARSS office. Or email it to you. IF you do not have a printer MARSS is happy to have it emailed to us at marss.ceo@bigpond.com and you can pick it up at the office. 47 Cambridge St Mitchell.

If the landlord says you are not going to be able to go back in, then you can lodge a Form 16 with Rental Tenancy Authority to appeal this decission.

If you have concerns that the landlord is not going to let you back in, or if you think that there is going to be a long time before you can get into the house again, then you need to lodge a request for housing with the Maranoa Regional Council.

Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal Application Form. MUST DO DUE 16th March

Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal Application 

DUE: - 16^th of March 2012

This is important!

Not many people in Mitchell have  completed the Premier's Disaster Relief Application Form. It is not one that you can fill in and give someone to lodge for you at the Recovery Centres. You may have been handed a copy of it.

We have been contacted by Red Cross and they have informed us that not many people have completed this form in Mitchell.

CLICK HERE to access the form you need to complete.

If you need help with this or additional information you can call 1800 901 933 Red Cross direct
or someone to call on you or you can drop in and see somone at 47 Cambridge St Mitchell. (The pink building) or you can go to the Recovery Centre next to the Blue Care office.

Completed forms can be mailed to:

Australian Red Cross Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal

Replied Paid 1822
Milton BC QLD 4064

OR Faxed to:
 33677444

Or emailed to:

lmateja@redcross.org.au

For more information please see this website. RED CROSS

If you need assistance with faxing this form please visit the office on MARSS and we will fax them for you.

If you know someone who needs assistance to fill this in please call Tilly on 0427 786 851.

What do you really need!

Maranoa and Regional Support Services Inc have been dropping in on people around town to get a clear picture of what is happening in the community so that we can go forward into the future of a better Mitchell. 

One thing that has come to our attention is the number of people who have either not had insurance or have been refused insurance.
Mitchell never expected a flood like the one we had in February. We all live on a tight budget, and to reduce costs leaving out something like flood cover is a normal reaction for most people who have never experienced what a flood can be like.

It isn’t helpful to our fellow citizens to feel smug about being lucky that went with a company like Suncorp who automatically cover for flood, when our neighbours thought they were doing the right thing and insured with an alternative company. In most cases, those who were with those companies that did cover flood were not even aware until after the event, and breathed a sigh of relieve. Alternatively, those who were not covered, in most cases were shocked and are now in serious financial difficulty.

In addition to this, many people had the insurance assesses go through their claim early and they didn’t have the time to think about what they really were missing. In many cases, people can go back to their insurer and reclaim, however, some cannot.

MARSS has been door knocking houses and presenting people with the opportunity to fill in an Essential Household Items form that will help them to think about what is missing, but also so that if they return it to MARSS we may be able to assist them to get some of the smaller items that have been lost in the flood, things we don’t think of like, potato peelers, soap holders, rubbish bins.

A number of people have told us that it is ok to presume that we can go down to the shop and replace these items – all the shops are opened – but money doesn’t grow on trees and for some recovery will take a long time. The cost of replacing appliances in the average kitchen exceeds $1000.

We have included a list of house hold items that the average family has. If you think we can help, please fill it in and we will make direct contact with organisation that may be able to help, such as Giveit, Lifeline, individuals, businesses and towns that have offered help.

We need these lists completed urgently, so we can send letters of request in bulk.

If business houses who were affected by the flood want to put together a wish list, we are happy to help with trying to source items for you as well.

It is one thing to say BUY LOCAL and another to understand that not all of us can buy at all.

Please remember, we are making no promises, we are just trying to give as much support as we can to the most people in any way we can.

HOUSEHOLDITEMS LIST (PDF format. You will need to print and fill in this one by hand and return to the office at 47 Cambridge Street. Or scan and return by fax 46237572 or email marss.ceo@bigpond.com )

HOUSEHOLDITEMS LIST (Spread sheet format complete on your computer, printed and returned to MARSS at 47 Cambridge Street or email to marss.ceo@bigpond.com)



Money Matters

Financial Assistance Information:

For up to date information click here.

 

1. Disaster Assistance

Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements have been activated across the Balonne, Barcaldine, Blackall Tambo, Central Highlands, Maranoa, Murweh and Paroo local government areas.

**Financial counselling hotline: 1800 007 007 (Financial First Aid)**

1.1 Emergent Assistance Grant

Affected residents will be able to access personal hardship assistance to cover the costs of essential items such as food, clothing and accommodation. Hardship assistance grants of $180 per person, up to a maximum of $900 for a family of five will be available.

Emergent assistance grants are not means tested.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information call 1800 173 349 or visit your nearest Community Recovery Centre. You can also take the first steps in applying for Community Recovery support and assistance through the Personal Recovery Assist Portal.

1.2 Essential Household Contents Grant

An Essential Household Contents Grant may be available to low-income families to help with the replacement or repair of uninsured, essential household contents which have been lost, damaged or destroyed. This grant provides assistance of up to $1,765 for individuals and $5,300 for families.

Essential Household Contents Grants are means tested and applicants will need to satisfy income and asset tests for these grants

FIND OUT MORE: For more information call 1800 173 349 or visit your nearest Community Recovery Centre. You can also take the first steps in applying for Community Recovery support and assistance through the Personal Recovery Assist Portal.

 

1.3 Structural Assistance Grants

Further assistance will be available to assist repair owner-occupied, uninsured residences damaged by floodwaters with Structural Assistance Grants of up to $10,905 for individuals and $14,685 for families.

Essential Household Contents and Structural Assistance grants are means tested and applicants will need to satisfy income and asset tests for these grants.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information call 1800 173 349 or visit your nearest Community Recovery Centre. You can also take the first steps in applying for Community Recovery support and assistance through the Personal Recovery Assist Portal.

1.4 Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) will be provided to eligible people adversely affected by the Queensland flooding. The payment is to provide immediate, one-off financial assistance ($1 000 per adult and $400 per child) to eligible Australians adversely affected by the disaster.

Claims for this assistance can be lodged at Centrelink until 6 August 2012. Click here to view eligible locations.

Eligibility criteria:

·       are an Australian resident, and

·       are 16 years or older or are receiving a social security payment, and

·       have not already received an Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment for the disaster, and

·       have experienced one or more of the following:

o   you have been seriously injured

o   you are the immediate family member of an Australian killed as a direct result of the disaster

o   your home has been destroyed or has sustained major damage

o   you have been stranded in your home, or unable to gain access to your home, for a period of at least 24 hours

o   your home was without electricity, water, gas, sewage services or another essential service for a continuous period of 48 hours

o   you are the principal carer of a dependent child who has experienced any of the above

FIND OUT MORE: Call Centrelink on 180 22 66 or visit the website for more information.

 

1.5 Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements

The Commonwealth/State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) have been activated for approving concessional loans to primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations in the affected areas of Balonne, Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo, Maranoa, Murweh and Paroo.

Primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations affected by flooding in South West Queensland may be eligible for grants up to $25,000. Grants are available in two tiers.

·       Tier 1 - grants of up to $5,000 to assist primary producers, small businesses and not for profit organisations with immediate early recovery (subject to future QRAA audit)

·       Tier 2 - grants of up to $20,000 to recover costs that the primary producer, small businesses and not for profit organisations have paid in order to repair direct flood damage.

 

1.6 Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme Grant

Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme Grants provide home owners who are unable to claim insurance or are uninsured with a refund for the cost of safely reconnecting electricity, gas, water, sewage services and septic systems damaged by the disaster.

Home owners can claim up to $200 for safety inspections by accredited inspectors for pre inspection of electricity, gas, water, sewage services and septic systems damaged by the disaster.

Home owners can claim up to $4,200 to reinstate services to Australian Standards by qualified tradespeople, after the disaster.

Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme Grants are means tested and applicants will need to satisfy income and asset tests for these grants.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information call 1800 173 349 or visit your nearest Community Recovery Centre. You can also take the first steps in applying for Community Recovery support and assistance through the Personal Recovery Assist Portal.

1.7 Accommodation assistance

Financial assistance is available for Queensland home owners or private renters in areas affected by flooding.

FIND OUT MORE: Find out more about the accommodation assistance available.

1.8 Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal

Red Cross is also assisting with the distribution of funds from the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal to people impacted by the regional Queensland floods earlier in the year. Red Cross is encouraging individuals and families affected by these floods in Queensland to apply.

The Appeal application forms are available online or by calling Red Cross on 1800 901 933. Application forms are also available from Disaster Recovery Centres and Queensland Department of Communities offices in the flood-affected areas.

2.0Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal Donatios

 

Donations to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal can be made in a number of ways.

Donations can be made in person at any Queensland branch of the Bank of Queensland (BoQ), Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ, NAB or Suncorp.

Donations can be made through online bank transfer to Account Name - Premiers Disaster Relief Appeal, BSB - 064 013, Account number - 1004 1278.

Donations can be made via credit card by calling 1800 219 028 or through the Queensland Government website.