Neighbours from hell: The number of Housing Trust tenants getting evicted has reached record levels under three-strikes policy
The number of Housing Trust tenants being evicted has surged sixfold in just one year, as vandals, drunks and druggies fall foul of a strict new three-strikes policy.
SA News
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Housing Trust vandals, drunks, druggies, violent criminals and bad neighbours are being evicted in record numbers, with a sixfold increase under a new three-strikes-and-you’re-out policy.
The change was a State Government election promise implemented a year ago, and has resulted in a year-on-year increase from 20 evictions to 148.
Another 137 tenants have had their three strikes and are awaiting eviction, and like the others must either find private accommodation, live with friends or family for 12 months, or use homeless services.
And a strike for the worst tenants is becoming easier to incur with the year-on-year increase to April this year going from 1276 to 1821.
The new policy replaces a hands-off departmental policy which gave tenants up to seven warnings to behave before being evicted, resulting in the 630 per cent increase in evictions in the year to April.
Minister Human Services Michelle Lensink said the data clearly showed the State Government would act when tenants repeatedly do the wrong thing.
“The data clearly reflects we unequivocally do not tolerate the minority of tenants who repeatedly do the wrong thing and flout the law – and these are the people this policy is targeted at,” she said.
Examples of “strikes” in 2019-20 include:
DRUNKEN or drug-affected residents, or those holding uncontrollable parties;
CULTIVATION of illegal substances;
INTIMIDATING and aggressive behaviour, or tenants threatening to injure/harm neighbours;
ABUSE, property damage and assault.
Many of the worst tenants are lining themselves up to be evicted with 368 currently on a first strike, and 129 on two strikes.
The policy was supported by the Housing Trust Tenants Association which often complained a small minority of unworthy tenants were spoiling the system for 53,634 South Australian tenants.
Only hardship evictions are currently suspended because of the COVID-19 crisis, with so-called ASBs, or those relating to anti-social behaviour, swiftly dealt with.
Ms Lensink said all South Australians had the right to live peacefully without being subjected to anti-social behaviour by their neighbours.
“I need to stress that the majority of our public housing tenants do the right thing, respect others and their property and pay their rent on time,’’ she said.
“I urge those who defy these simple measures to stop – and seek help if they need it, or risk being evicted.”
The policy was further toughened in April this year when a “strike” now remains active for 12 months, rather than the previous six months.
For serious anti-social behaviour that impacts on a person’s safety or for serious alleged illegal activity, immediate referral to the courts for eviction may be taken.
If eviction occurs, the tenant will not be able to seek housing with Housing SA for 12 months.
Tenants who are evicted are offered support by homelessness services, if they want it.
Where a customer’s tenancy is affected by a mitigating circumstance like mental illness or domestic violence, housing staff will work with the welfare sector to provide support services to help modify the behaviour.
“Where appropriate, staff can arrange support services and early intervention to help people to take the steps they need to maintain their tenancy and staff are working to identify at-risk tenants earlier so that supports can be put in place sooner,” Ms Lensink said.