Housing trust residents to be moved to caravan parks as 100 homes have ceilings replaced

Housing trust tenants will be forced into caravan parks while the ceilings of their properties are replaced because they were built using incorrect materials and fixings.

Tenants of 100 Housing SA properties will be forced to temporarily relocate while the ceilings of their homes are replaced because they were incorrectly built.

Residents say they’ve been left in the dark about the timeline and reason for the repairs.

A letter written to a Hectorville tenant from Michael Buchan, chief of the SA Housing Authority, said “visible cracks” in the ceiling of the man’s home were identified in a February 2020 inspection but the material used “could not be identified”.

Another visit was made in March 2021 – more than a year later – when “it was confirmed it was not the correct ceiling product and fixing method”.

“Therefore, full replacement of the ceiling is required, even though there were no visible signs of sagging of the ceilings,” the letter says.

The tenant, who does not want to be identified, said he did not think the ceiling needed replacing but was told it was necessary because of the thickness of the plasterboard and the glue used in construction.

The man said he was told he would be accommodated at the Levi Caravan Park, at nearby Vale Park, for up to four weeks while the replacement ceiling was installed.

At a budget estimates hearing fronted by Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink on Friday, opposition spokeswoman Nat Cook said residents had been asked to pack up their homes ready to move out “in the middle of winter, in the pandemic”.

But, she said, they had not been provided with formal notification of when they would be required to move.

“They’ve just had to sit on their belongings, all packed up, ready to go,” she said.

“Sadly, this is typical of the disregard and lack of care shown by the government when it comes to maintenance”.

Opposition human services spokeswoman Nat Cook. Picture: AAP Image/Keryn Stevens

Julie Macdonald, assistant secretary of the Housing Trust Tenants Association, said reports of communication issues with Housing SA were “extremely common”.

“It’s all about money, never about the tenants,” she said.

Housing SA said ceilings in about 100 properties built in the metropolitan area between 2002 and 2009 needed to be replaced.

“Housing SA contractors conducted an inspection program to determine which ceilings needed replacing,” a spokesman said.

“As with any tenancy, public housing tenants are obliged to facilitate the owner’s – in this case Housing SA – need to undertake property maintenance.”

The spokesman said Housing SA had made “every effort to minimise disruption” and would assist tenants with alternative accommodation where necessary.

“Housing SA has communicated with tenants by letter and through direct conversations with tenants,” he said.

Despite requests, Housing SA has not specified where all of the affected homes are.