Qld public housing tenants face three-strike policy in rule crackdown

Public housing tenants will be slapped with a tough new three-strike policy under a dramatic crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Public housing tenants will face strict new policies.

Public housing tenants will be slapped with a tough new three-strike policy that could see them evicted within 12 months and banned from accessing social homes for two years, under a dramatic state government crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

A zero-tolerance blitz will target illegal activities including assault, drug manufacturing and dangerous conduct, with offenders facing immediate eviction and a two-year ban.

These would be the harshest penalties set against public housing tenants since the Newman government’s controversial three-strike policy.

The Opposition anticipated the LNP would bring in laws similar to those imposed by Newman earlier this week after Housing Minister Sam O’Connor declared there would be increased accountability over testing tenants’ incomes.

Mr O’Connor said the new measures would restore fairness and equity to the system.

The policy which kicks in from July 1 aimed to ensure Queenslanders feel safe in their homes.

Sam O'Connor, the Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Youth. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Mr O’Connor said public housing behavioural standards had crumbled because there was no practical framework to hold rogue tenants to account.

“The overwhelming majority of public housing tenants are good neighbours but when someone repeatedly, deliberately damages property, harasses neighbours, or brings crime into their community, they shouldn’t be protected by a broken system,” Mr O’Connor said.

Disturbing behaviours such as harassment, intimidation and hate-fuelled conduct will be defined as ‘serious’ offences, with tenants facing a 12-month eviction ban after three strikes within a year.

But tenants could be booted on the first strike if they refuse to sign an acceptable behaviour agreement after admitting fault.

General nuisance behaviour such as blaring music and wild parties will trigger written warnings, with mandatory behaviour agreements required after three strikes, or risk losing their home.

Public housing tenants across Brisbane will face new guidelines.

There would still be tolerance for tenants with complex needs, such as mental illness, disability or those escaping domestic violence.

The Antisocial Behaviour Policy is also designed to slash the ballooning $20m taxpayer repair bill, with more than 52,000 vulnerable Queenslanders still stuck on the social housing waitlist.

The repair bill jumped by nearly 25 per cent, with around 12,000 public homes damaged in the past financial year alone.

Earlier this week, Mr O’Connor blasted the former Labor government, claiming they had weakened behavioural powers and tolerated misconduct while failing to address surging housing demand.

He revealed that nearly half of public housing tenants had not had their incomes checked for more than five years.

“That meant households on incomes as high as $200,000 were living in social homes, paying less than $200 a week in rent, while tens of thousands of vulnerable Queenslanders were left waiting for housing,” Mr O’Connor said.

Originally published as Qld public housing tenants face three-strike policy in rule crackdown