Housing Trust homes sold as prospective tenants refuse to take up northern suburbs residence

More than 100 homes that could have gone to SA’s most vulnerable have been sold, as prospective Housing Trust tenants refuse to live in Elizabeth.

Housing Trust homes are being sold due to prospective tenants refusing housing offers in the northern suburbs despite an almost 20,000 person waitlist, according to the Housing Trust Tenants Association.

Housing SA revealed that 120 properties were sold in the 2020-21 financial year, homes that could have been allocated to SA’s most vulnerable.

Julie Macdonald, Housing Trust Tenants Association (HTTA) assistant secretary said that in some instances houses remain empty or are sold because prospective tenants turn down properties that are not in their desired location.

“This especially happens in the northern suburbs, people want to be close to their doctors, their families, and the reputation that area has also has an impact,” she said.

Corey Langford with his dog Tas. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Lucky Padma of Bachelor Real Estate said he handled two Housing SA properties – 32 & 34 Holcomb St, Elizabeth East – that were sold to private owners in the past few years.

“I believe that a lot of homes in the area are being sold at the moment,” he said

“With the rental crisis we can find a renter without even advertising the home, there are just so many people desperate for somewhere to stay.”

Elizabeth residents believe that the northern suburbs have been slapped with a negative reputation for decades and deserves a second chance.

Corey Langford, has lived in Elizabeth for the past two years with his kelpie Taz and said that now is the perfect time to be moving north.

“It is just such an affordable area and I had a good chat with my financial advisor last week and he said that the cost of houses is only going to go up. It is a great place to invest in,” he said.

“I have never had any problems out here. Not saying that I haven’t heard of people who have had some trouble, but that is the same everywhere you go.”

Former bus driver James Moultrie, 78, is happy living in Elizabeth. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Former bus driver James Moultrie has moved around Adelaide in his 78 years but finds himself returning to live in Elizabeth because it has everything he needs.

“I lived in Noarlunga for a few years and it was so rough down there, but then I ended up moving back here and I have never seen any kind of violence,” he said.

“People seem to think it is so far away from everything, but I am close to my doctors, the shopping centre is just down the road, and once I jump on the freeway the city is just 20 minutes away.”

HTTA secretary Tony Elmers said that the selling of homes is only adding to the “deplorable” drop in public housing availability.

“We need more homes to be built not more homes to be disposed of,” Mr Elmers said.

“While the current government has committed to building 400 new homes that is barley a dent in the number of people waiting on the housing list.

“An additional 120 homes might not seem like much, but that is 120 people who could be better off.”

Andrews Farm residents Chelsea and Brady Fransson with their children Henry and Victoria, at Fremont Park. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Uniting Communities advocacy manager Mark Henley said that stable housing is a vital step for individuals battling drug and alcohol addiction, and people fleeing domestic violence situations.

“It is nearly impossible for individuals to make progress if they don’t have a roof over their head,” Mr Henley said.

“The long term practice of reducing public housing has been a poor policy for decades, and the selling of these homes in a continuation of that.”

The need for safe and affordable housing is a growing issue in South Australia said Shelter SA executive director Alice Clarke.

Millions of dollars is invested each year into a housing system which still fails to house so many South Australians, she said.

“Even if it is one house, that could be a home for someone.”

“At the same time we do need to have some faith in Housing SA and their ability to make sure people are given homes which are safe for them to live long term.

“If money is raised through these sales and that goes back into the housing system then that is a good thing.”

Human Services Minister Nat Cook told The Advertiser that “a number of recent house sales were in motion under the former liberal government” and that the “Labor government has committed to no further reduction of our public housing.”

A total 19,984 people are waiting for public housing, 3,435 of which are listed as category one – indicating they are homeless or at risk – and are waiting 10 months on average for a home.