Needy waiting for affordable rental while hundreds of houses are assessed

A scheme to get homeowners to lease their properties to low-income Tasmanians has attracted four times as many offers as the projected housing requirement.

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch the aim was to have the 110 properties available by June next year. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

A GOVERNMENT scheme to get homeowners to lease their properties to low-income Tasmanians has attracted four times as many offers as the projected housing requirement.

The State Government’s private rental incentive scheme has been successful in helping many individuals, couples and families secure affordable accommodation.

But the tenants’ union has slammed the program for taking too long to help vulnerable people.

When Housing Minister Roger Jaensch announced the pilot scheme, it was expected 110 low-income households would be assisted.

Since April, there have been expressions of interest from more than 450 property owners and 218 properties submitted for assessment.

So far, 52 homes — 34 in the South, seven in the North and 11 in the North-West — have been accepted for the program and leased to applicants on the housing register.

Under the incentive scheme, owners receive up to $13,000 in the South and up to $10,000 in the North and North-West in return for capping rents at 20 per cent below the median market value and the provision of a 12-month lease.

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“We recognise the challenges of the current housing market,” Mr Jaensch said.

“The Government is addressing supply issues by progressing with our 10-year affordable housing strategy to assist more people into affordable rentals, and build more social and affordable dwellings.”

Tenants’ Union of Tasmania spokesman Benedict Bartl said urgent action was needed to immediately restore housing lost to short-term accommodation providers.

“The housing crisis is as significant as our health crisis with more than 3000 people on the waiting list for public and community housing,” he said.

“Yet since the housing summit in March only 34 low income households in the South and 18 in the North have been assisted as a result of this program.”

Tenants’ Union of Tasmania spokesman Benedict Bartl said the program was taking too long to put people into the houses. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

A homeowner who signed up for the scheme told the Mercury Housing Tasmania did not do a good enough job in filling her property.

She said her house was shown to only six people in more than a month, all of whom declined. Meanwhile it was off the rental market and she received no compensation.

“They have a responsibility for both parties,” she said.

She had since removed her property from consideration for the scheme and put it back on the open market, where she received 50 applications and rented it out within a week.

Mr Jaensch said it was important to match the property to the specific needs of individual households from the housing register.

“Once an approved property enters the scheme, community housing providers work closely with tenants to ensure their needs are met in a timely manner,” he said.

He said the program was still taking expressions of interest, with the aim of having the 110 properties available by June next year.

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