Page 3096 - Week 09 - Thursday, 21 September 2006
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accommodation for its clients; if so, what rights and responsibilities will Disability ACT be facilitating for people with special needs that will entitle them to enter into accommodation agreements with housing providers, both government and private.
(2) What levels of support will be provided by the ACT Government via the services offered by Disability ACT to people with special needs who opt to take up accommodation agreements in the private housing market.
Ms Gallagher: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) In response to recommendation 15, Disability ACT and Housing ACT offered individual tenancy agreements to all residents of Disability ACT group houses. To date 15 individuals in five houses have elected to enter into individual tenancy agreements. A further 13 clients expressed an interest in the offer but have been unable to transfer to the new arrangements because the offer is contingent on the agreement of all residents within a household. This offer remains open to all Accommodation Support Services clients.
Under Residential Tenancies Act 1997, people with special needs have the same entitlements as anyone else.
Disability ACT, as well as government-funded community accommodation support services, assist their clients to understand their tenancy rights and responsibilities, and to meet their tenancy obligations. Private tenants are also supported by community agencies such as ACT Shelter.
(2) Accommodation support services provided by Disability ACT to people with special needs who opt to take up accommodation agreements in the private housing market is no different from people with special needs who live in public accommodation.
Disabled persons—accommodation
(Question No 1195)
Mrs Burke asked the Minister for Disability and Community Services, upon notice, on 23 August 2006:
With reference to page 42, Gallop Report: Board of Inquiry into Disability Services (2001):
(1) Does Recommendation 16 suggest that in order to protect the tenancy rights of disabled people, the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 should be amended to ensure that residents in group homes have adequate security of tenure by being granted appropriate tenancy status under the Act and what specific components of this Act offer protection of tenure to people with special needs;
(2) If such protection is afforded to disabled people, how does it cover any accommodation agreement, both public or private.
Ms Gallagher: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Following a review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2004 was passed in September 2004. This Act provides that a person can contract into terms of the Residential Tenancies Act through a Residential Tenancy Agreement.
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