Tenancy advocates have called for "all governments" to copy emergency laws being debated in the Tasmanian Parliament which could protect renters from eviction for four months during the coronavirus crisis.

Key points: Tasmania is considering a temporary moratorium on the eviction of tenants for not being able to pay their rent

Tasmania is considering a temporary moratorium on the eviction of tenants for not being able to pay their rent Other proposed changes to Tasmanian laws are designed to help those experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Other proposed changes to Tasmanian laws are designed to help those experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic NSW tenancy advocates have welcomed the proposed changes and say all governments should follow Tasmania's lead

The laws, if passed by both houses, would give "no effect" to rent arrears or eviction notices for an initial emergency period of 120 days due to the coronavirus crisis, with an extension of 90 days in exceptional circumstances.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said the laws would "ensure tenants have the incentive to continue to pay rent during the emergency period, where they are able to do so".

The COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 brings in sweeping changes to rental agreements. It does not mean that renters can stop paying, even if they have lost their income because of industry closures. But it does mean they will not be kicked out of their home.

The legislation would give the Tasmanian Government power to stop landlords from increasing rents for commercial and residential tenants.

Other measures include a halt on house inspections and maintenance repairs, unless in an emergency.

Tenants and owners would also have rights to break a fixed-term lease if they could prove continuing to rent a property would cause severe hardship, but this would have to be approved by the Residential Tenancy Commissioner.

Benedict Bartl, acting principal solicitor for the Tenants' Union of Tasmania, said when the emergency period ends, tenants may face a "nasty hit … as landlords will be able to pursue them for rental arrears".

"We'll be doing everything in our power, in that period, to work out a plan for a 'soft landing' for renters at the end of the emergency period," he said.

Mr Bartl argued the proposed laws should go further and called for a freeze on evictions for any reason during the coronavirus pandemic.

"There's lots of reasons in the act why you can evict a tenant: They've been a nuisance, because the lease is coming to an end, another is because the bank is foreclosing on the property," Mr Bartl said.

"We believe that all of those reasons should be included in the bill. There is no reason a tenant should be evicted during this crisis."

Shelter Tas, the peak body for housing and homelessness in Tasmania, welcomed the proposed bill, but flagged a need to "monitor the impacts of this legislation to ensure there are no unintended consequences".

"For example, there may be a need to bolster the resources of the Residential Tenancy Commissioner and to ensure that freeing up rental negotiations between landlords and tenants does not lead to increases in rent or disadvantages to tenants," Shelter Tas chief executive Pattie Chugg said.

The Government's original legislation protected only commercial tenants from rent increases but a Greens amendment to protect residential tenants passed the Tasmanian Lower House unopposed.

The legislation is before the state's Upper House.

NSW eyeing Tasmanian development

In a statement, Leo Patterson Ross, from the Tenants' Union of NSW, welcomed the Tasmanian development and said it "shows that all governments can act to protect our communities in this way".

"We need to ensure that people affected by the coronavirus are safe from evictions into the health crisis," Mr Patterson Ross said.

"We are concerned that the legislation may leave some behind; it does not address all evictions, or people living in boarding houses. We should not leave anyone at risk of being made homeless in this health crisis".

Measures to address rental stress for both businesses and residents across the country were supposed to be signed-off by the states and territories at a national cabinet meeting on Tuesday night.

However, commercial rents will now be considered at another hook-up with the leaders tonight, scheduled after the initial meeting ran overtime. Residential rents will be discussed on Friday.

Speaking after National Cabinet yesterday, Mr Morrison said he was hoping to finalise support shortly.

"This is obviously a complicated issue because you've got a tenant, you've got a landlord, you've got creditors and all of those issues and you need to solve for the entire chain that's there."