Public housing vacant for a year: Qld govt

[twinkles**stars]

Some public housing tenants in Queensland are going on holidays for up to a year when there are 22,000 families on the waiting list, the state government says.

Housing Minister Tim Mander wants public housing rules changed after revealing that 285 tenants were away from their homes between three and 12 months over the last financial year.

Mr Mander says tenants can have their rent reduced to $10.95 per week while they are away and even let friends stay in their homes, rent free.

"The current situation doesn't even go close to passing the common sense test," he said in a statement.

"When there are still almost 22,000 households on the public housing waiting list, it is ridiculous to allow people to disappear for a whole year."

Mr Mander said the rules also allowed people jailed for a criminal offence to keep their homes.

"These properties are designed to be used, not left sitting vacant while people are away on holidays or in prison," he said.

"Public housing is a scarce resource and we need to make sure it is going to those who need it most."

[azureline**]

Yes it is but 285 houses will go no way toward the huge waiting list? would seem more prudent to move on the thousands who don't need it and can afford private rental?

[*elizabeths-mum*]

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@azureline** wrote:

Yes it is but 285 houses will go no way toward the huge waiting list? would seem more prudent to move on the thousands who don't need it and can afford private rental?

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It goes 285 houses into the list the but, but I do agree. I am reading through the fact sheets now and am about to come to when  your circumstances change.

Re leaving houses vacant for up to 12 months and people living in them for no rent, the department encourages the person absent to appoint someone to caretake while they will be away (other reasons as well as prison) and states that the caretakers income is not included in the rent assessment if the caretaker lives in your home while you are away. 

http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/resources/housing/renting/temporary-absence.pdf

[carls*world]

"Public housing is a scarce resource and we need to make sure it is going to those who need it most."

What I think would be more prudent, would have been governments managing budgets a bit better, and continuing building public housing at the rate they did a few decades ago, instead of selling off large chunks of the stock to private investors, in efforts to meet budgets.

"A scarce resource"

The first Govt built public housing in the country, was SA Housing Trust. And each and every home (entire new suburbs) built by them in its first 30 years was for working families. Full time income earners. It wasn't a charity for the socially deprived.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

The HC says they review and if your combined gross income goes above $80 000, or you own property or you aren't giving information to be assessed on, you will be given 4 months to vacate. You may have to option to buy the house if it is available for sale.

http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/resources/housing/renting/ongoing-eligibility.pdf

[azureline**]

Does that apply to everyone? or is it only "new" tenants from when that rule was made?

[*elizabeths-mum*]

I don't know, it is just from their site. I would have thought it should apply to all but I wondered how diligent they are about keeping track.
On another forum there was some mention of $95 000 in some circumstances but no idea how credible the person posting was.

[azureline**]

It just seems like a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of waste they practice.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

I don't know much about the workings of HC to know what waste there is.

[freakiness]

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@azureline** wrote:

I can imagine 285 tenants in the whole of Qld, may not be a huge amount? given how many inmates there are?

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I wonder how many of those 285 were in hospital or rehab for extended stays.

A person has a stroke, they're in hospital then rehab for months.

A person is in a serious accident they would be in hospital then extended rehab.

[polksaladallie]

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@freakiness wrote:

I wonder how many of those 285 were in hospital or rehab for extended stays.

A person has a stroke, they're in hospital then rehab for months.

A person is in a serious accident they would be in hospital then extended rehab.

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The article says that this new rule will not apply to people with medical issues.