2000 Housing Trust homes empty as 17,000 languish on waiting list

More than 17,000 people are waiting for public housing, but almost 2000 Housing SA homes are vacant – mostly due to outstanding maintenance problems.

Almost 2000 Housing SA homes across the state are vacant – mostly due to outstanding maintenance problems – while 17,000 people languish on the public housing waiting list, new figures reveal.

South Australian Housing Authority chief executive Michael Buchan has told a parliamentary hearing that latest data showed there were 476 Housing SA properties that were able to be rented out but remained empty while a further 1500 were vacant and untenantable.

Housing SA has meanwhile released photos of upgrades to previously dilapidated homes, which have been given fresh paintwork, new kitchens and landscaping outside as part of a record maintenance spend.

Housing Trust transformations – before and after

Housing Trust transformations – before and after

Mr Buchan told the hearing that 1500 homes were unable to be occupied because they were undergoing maintenance work or renovations.

It is understood in some instances, houses remain empty because prospective tenants turn down properties because they are not in their desired location.

But the Housing Trust Tenants Association says many of the homes are remaining vacant for too long, forcing people who desperately need public housing to continue waiting.

“A lot of these homes have been sitting empty for 12 months ­– we want to know why it’s taking so long to do the maintenance on these properties,” HTTP spokeswoman Julie McDonald said.

Housing Trust transformations – before

… and after.

Mother-of-four Hayley Cawthorne of Holden Hill has been on the Housing SA waiting list for four years after fleeing domestic violence.

The 42-year-old said it was “sad” that so many homes were vacant when there were so many people in need.

“It’s frustrating – I’d be more than happy to fix up a house myself if I could get a roof over our heads,” she said.

Hayley has been forced to lease short-term rentals as she waits for public housing – but it is not sustainable.

“It’s caused a great deal of distress with the kids because I get paid $750 a fortnight and my private rent is $740 a fortnight so that leaves us $10,” she said.

Kate Ryan, 48, and her son Liam, 17, are in emergency accommodation after they were evicted in August from the house they had lived in for 17 years because their landlord was selling up.

Ms Ryan is on a disability support pension and Liam has autism. They lived at a caravan park for a few weeks before moving into emergency accommodation. They are on the public housing waiting list and are classed as category 2, which is for people who “aren’t in urgent housing need but have long-term barriers to … private housing options,” according to the Housing SA website.

Housing Trust transformations - Mellor kitchen BEFORE

Before and after: old and new kitchens in Housing Trust homes

Ms Ryan said their emergency accommodation costs $120 a night.

“We’re paying some of it but the government is paying the rest and I don’t understand why the government is throwing money away like that when it’s got houses sitting there,” she said.

Opposition human services spokeswoman Nat Cook said the market rental on 2000 public houses would equal about $25m per year – money that could be reinvested into housing.

Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink said the government had spent a record $168m on maintenance funding in 2020-21, which included upgrades in Parkside, Glengowrie, Christie Downs, Fullarton, Elizabeth and Oaklands Park.