Hobart tenants without power, heat, hot water a week after fire

‘I’ve got nowhere else to go’. Residents of a Hobart unit block gutted by fire a week ago have been left in the dead of winter without power, heating or hot water.

Goulburn Street unit resident Soul Catanie who has been without power for a week after a structure fire. Picture: Chris Kidd

Residents of a Goulburn Street apartment block have been left without power and heating a week after a unit was gutted by fire.

The situation has prompted calls from the state’s tenants’ union for better protection for renters in emergencies.

Tenants of 16 units at 63 Goulburn St were evacuated after an early morning fire on Sunday, June 2 which spread to the roof of an interior unit. Multiple brigades attended and power was cut to the building.

One resident inside the unit was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital for burns injuries and remains in a coma.

TFS at the scene of a structure fire in Goulburn Street, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Power has still not been restored to the building, with long-term resident Soul Catanie stating he has lost all of his food supplies and has fallen and injured himself in the apartment without lighting.

“Police told us to go elsewhere on the Sunday, but I’ve got nowhere else to go,” he said.

“I can’t cook, can’t wash, can’t do anything, I just sit here with my doona over me.

“I’ve fallen over twice now because I can’t see the steps on the stairs without any power and have hurt my head, my shoulder, my knee and my back.

“I have to use candles for some light, but I don’t want to cause a fire either.”

Despite the loss of power, heating and hot water, Mr Catanie said he was still being charged rent at the property.

Goulburn Street unit resident Soul Catanie who has been without power for a week after a structure fire. Picture: Chris Kidd

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they had lost hundreds of dollars of groceries stored in their freezer and had been trying to keep out of his apartment as much as possible to keep warm.

“Right now, it’s warmer outside than it is in here,” they said.

“I’ll walk into town and sit out on my stairs to stay warm and just for something to do.

“I’ve fallen in my apartment without the lights so I tend to just stay in my chair so I don’t risk it again.”

The property owner and landlord denied charging rent for tenants still staying in Goulburn St, stating that he instead offered everyone displaced a hotel “until needed”.

“We are not charging rent for anyone, we offered everyone a room at a hotel on Sunday, some just decided not to go.”

TFS at the scene of a structure fire in Goulburn Street, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

The landlord said he hoped to reconnect power “sometime this week” and that it was unrelated to the fire.

A TasNetworks spokesman confirmed the Goulburn St property had its power disconnected at the pole following the fire due to compliancy issues and “safety”.

“The property was disconnected for safety after the fire since June 2,” the spokesman said. “The property needs a certificate of compliance from an electrical contractor before the full service line can be reconnected.”

Tenants’ Union of Tasmania solicitor Ben Bartl said that Tasmania’s tenant laws don’t provide any coverage for tenants in the case of emergency, like house fires, were neither tenant or landlord are at fault.

TFS at the scene of a structure fire in Goulburn Street, Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“It is not fair that renters have to keep paying rent for a property that is not habitable,” he said.

“We believe that law reform is needed so that renters can either terminate the lease without penalty or be appropriately compensated.

“Tasmania is the only Australian jurisdiction whose Residential Tenancy Act does not allow renters to seek compensation for a loss of amenities or services.

“If renters can afford it, we also strongly encourage them to take out contents insurance to protect against natural disasters and other unforeseen events that cause damage to their possessions.”