Page 744 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994

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MINISTER FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NO. 1220

Housing Trust - Rent Relief Program

MR. CORNWELL - Asked the Minister for Housing and Community Services -

(1) Do tenants in receipt of rent relief sign lease agreements with their private landlords.

(2) What period of time does the ACT Housing Trust allow people in

(1) to take up an offer of Trust accommodation

(3) In the event there is still a period of time for the private lease to

run in (2), does the Trust pay the rent relief component for this

period to either the landlord or the tenant.

(4) Is the tenant then obliged to pay the balance of the rent for the

unexpired lease period on the private accommodation; if yes; what

incentive is there for a tenant to move from private

accommodation to Trust accommodation.

(5) How much money has the Trust paid to cover unexpired lease

MR. CONNOLLY - The answer to the Members question is as follows:

(1) Before a client is approved for rent relief they are required to

provide a copy of the lease or an equivalent document signed by the

landlord.

(2) Persons on the Housing Trusts waiting list are required to

make a decision on an offer of accommodation within 48 hours.

(3) No. However, a loan of up to $600 under the Rent Relief Program

can be utilised if the private tenancy agreement requires that the

tenant continue to pay rent until the landlord has a new tenant for

the property.

Alternatively, they can choose to defer their allocation of a Housing Trust property. The client remains on the normal waiting list until an agreed date usually the expiry of their private lease.

(4) Yes, depending on the terms of the lease agreement. The incentive

for the tenant to move is to obtain the benefits of public rental

housing as quickly as possible.

(5) See (3) above.

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