The government has announced its moratorium on rental evictions and rent price increases will be extended until January 31.
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The protections, designed to protect renters from evictions for nonpayment of rent due to financial hardship by way of the coronavirus pandemic, were first introduced in March and in June they were extended until the end of September.
They were extended again until December 1.
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Renters have been able to access two rounds of a government rent relief fund to pay off arrears and the government later established a fund to assist landlords in financial hardship.
Building Minister Elise Archer said the decision to extend the moratorium was made after monitoring the ongoing effects of the pandemic on the state's economy.
"This is a reasonable period of time taking us well past Christmas and the new year," she said.
Tasmanian Residential Rental Property Owners Association president Louise Elliot said extending the moratorium at the last minute proved the impact the moratorium had on landlords was off the government's radar.
"Landlords have not been heard," she said.
"Conservatively landlords are owed at least $300,000 in rent.
"The extreme damage these interventions will have are only made worse by this unnecessary delay."
Tenants' Union of Tasmania principal solicitor Ben Bartl said tenants would meet the news with a sigh of relief.
"With the median Tasmanian renter in rental stress before COVID-19 and many having lost their jobs over the last six months, paying the rent has been a struggle," he said.
"The government's financial assistance is the most generous in Australia and effectively means that up to $10,000 is available to pay off outstanding rent arrears caused by the coronavirus."
Ms Archer said in light of the extension, the government would extend the availability of the COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund and the COVID-19 Landlord Support Fund.
"Landlords and tenants can reapply for additional support if the tenant is in rent arrears between 1 December 2020 and 31 January 2021 as a result of the impact of COVID-19," she said.
Labor's housing spokeswoman Alison Standen said the belated decision to extend relief had caused unnecessary stress for vulnerable Tasmanians.
"In failing to act faster, Elise Archer and Peter Gutwein have created enormous uncertainty for Tasmanian families, faced with the prospect of eviction in the leadup to Christmas," she said.
New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria have extended their residential tenancy protections until late March 2021.
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