Anger at cheap empty units sitting empty in one of Adelaide’s most prized locations

A damaged community housing complex on the city fringe has sat empty for months, sparking calls for it to be immediately fixed amid the dire affordable home shortage.

The boarded up units in Hackney. Picture: Tom Huntley

A damaged community housing complex in one of Adelaide’s most prized locations has sat empty for months, sparking calls for it to be immediately fixed to help address the state’s dire affordable home shortage.

All but one of six, single bedroom cottages in Hackney has been unused since a car ploughed through the front room of a unit in early May.

Neighbours, and the Opposition, told of their shock at the site, built in 1860, staying empty for almost six months.

Boarded up units at Hackney. Picture: Tom Huntley

Boarded up house trust units on Regent Street, Hackney, October 24th, 2022. Picture: Tom Huntley

The Housing Choices community organisation operates the heritage-listed complex, pictured, on a long-term lease from the state government.

The not-for-profit housing provider has waited for an insurance claim, lodged the day after the crash, to finalise the rebuild of the units, located adjacent St Peter’s College on the city’s inner eastern fringes.

Its heritage listing has also complicated efforts to rebuild, according to its general manager Julie Duncan, who hoped to start construction shortly after paying a builder deposit.

She said it will provide better social housing and concerned neighbours would be sent letters in coming days with an update.

“We have been waiting to resolve the heritage and insurance concerns to get the works going,” she said.

“That’s a long process, a difficult process but our hands have been tied.

“It’s a beautiful building in a great spot to live and I’m pleased we’ll be able to bring it back to life.”

The car crash in May.

But Opposition spokeswoman Michelle Lensink urged Housing Minister Nat Cook “to show some leadership when it comes to the community … sector and ensure vulnerable South Australians are treated better than this”.

“It’s disappointing that in the middle of a housing crisis no efforts have been made to repair this house, that’s been left to rot with a gaping hole for more than five months now,” she said.

Emergency crews after the car crash in May.

“It’s also incredibly troubling to hear a tenant from this block had no choice … but to move into a shipping container with all his belongings.”

But Ms Cook hit back that she can’t intervene with the complex, which the Housing Trust doesn’t operate, and questioned Ms Lensink’s understanding of her portfolio.

“We are confident that the provider acted quickly to relocate and support tenants after a home was hit by car,” she said.

“It’s disappointing the Liberals are now throwing mud at an organisation that helps people in need every day.”

She said it was an independent legal entity.