As president of the Real Estate Industry of South Australia, no one understands better than most how affected the real estate industry in South Australia has been by the Coronavirus pandemic than Brett Roenfeldt.

In an attempt to help the South Australian Government to also understand the need to support the industry, the REISA has sent a list of recommendations it hopes will start a conversation.

"The whole idea is to have a conversation with the Premier," said Mr Roenfeldt to WILLIAMS MEDIA.

"The real estate industry has been decimated as others have across the country.

"As we move out of isolation, we have to kick start the industry in Australia with incentive programs to get people to come back into the market.

"We have provided suggestions as to how we believe the government can excite the market."

While the REISA has welcomed the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 and the expediency of the South Australian government in the passage of the legislation (only second to Tasmania), Mr Roenfeldt said more detail and an understandig of how the Act will be implemented is needed.

The list of recommendations to the SA Government include;:

• Confirmation that real estate services will be deemed ‘essential services’ in the event of further restrictions or potential lockdown periods in response to COVID-19 
• The government to provide a 12-month extension for licence fees to all existing licence and registration holders in South Australia commencing 1 May 2020 
• For the government to advocate to the Fair Work Commissioner on behalf of South Australian real estate agents to help negotiate a reduction in the MITA by 50 per cent or/and extend the timeframe the MITA is accessed. 
• Clarification on the JobKeeper support is required. Further detail is required on the eligibility criteria. For example, an agent may have sold (subject to contract) a number of homes in early March. However, the agent will not be paid until settlement in May. This time lag is creating issues with regards to accessing the Job Keeper support. 
• REISA is calling on the government to waive the SACAT tribunal fees during the period that the new legislation covers. Where a tenant is in dispute with a specific aspect of their rental agreement, the suggestion that a landlord should have to pay a fee to have a hearing seems unreasonable.
• Land Tax, ESL and SA Water Relief.
• Council rates concessions. 
• Extending the current $10,000 grant to landlords of small to medium sized premises who can show a 30 per cent loss in their business to be eligible for this grant assistance. 
• Re-introduction of a First Home Buyers Grant to established housing by expanding the First Home Buyers Grant beyond new construction.
• Implement a 50% reduction in development application costs across all Local Governments and introduce streamlined application processes.
• Deliver a 75% reduction in stamp duty for the period of COVID-19.
• Removal of stamp duty for persons aged 65+ years. 
• A 50 per cent reduction in stamp duty where residential investment property purchases are committed to the permanent rental market in South Australia for 3 years or more.
• A 40 per cent reduction in stamp duty for all other residential property purchases.

Mr Roenfeldt said he was reasonably confident the SA Government will take up a number of the recommendations.

"In reality the Government enjoys the benefits of income from the real estate industry," said Mr Roenfeldt.

"If they go to the SA people and provide incentives to get back into the market, it will be well received."

Mr Roenfeldt said while all the recommendations were a priority, he hoped the Government would look seriously at the stamp duty relief, removal of stamp duty for over 65 year olds and extending the First Home Buyers Grant to established homes as well as new homes.

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