Page 1315 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 11 May 1993
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MINISTER FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION NO 655
Housing Trust - Tenant Transfers to Private Housing
MR CORNWELL: Asked the Minister for Housing and Community Services - In relation to the ACT Housing Trusts submission to the Industry Commission Inquiry into Public Housing and ineligibility to rent Trust properties due to increase in income (Attachment One, page 19)
(1) How is the rebate reduction, because of increase in a tenants income,
established.
(2) What percentage of tenants do not return the six months assessment form
and what action is taken against them.
(3) How many tenants ineligible to transfer to other Trust property because of
improved income levels moved into private housing in (a) 1990-91 and (b)
1991-92.
(4) How many tenants in circumstances at (3) did not move into private
accommodation in those years.
(5) In relation to tenants at (4), did they then move to the top level of rent and if
so, what is that top level of rent for each type of Trust property.
MR CONNOLLY: The answer to the Members question is as follows
(1) to (5) The Labor Government is committed to the principle of security of tenure for public housing tenants and will continue to meet these obligations which are contained within the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement. The government rejects the philosophy that tenants are ineligible "to rent Housing Trust properties due to increase in income".
The "market" rent charged by the ACT Housing Trust is related to comparable properties in the private market and varies according to location and amenities provided. The full rent is charged for the property unless the tenant cannot meet these rent levels and applies for a rebate. The application requires the tenant to declare all sources of income and this forms the basis for the calculation of the rebate. The tenant is required to advise the Housing Trust of changes in circumstances. The tenant is periodically required to reapply for the rebate. If the application is not completed the rent rebate is terminated and the full rent is charged. Under these arrangements security of tenure is guaranteed and subsidies in the form of rent rebates are provided only for the period when tenants are unable to afford the full rent.
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