‘Unbelievable’: Qld cracks whip on social housing rorters

Social housing tenants in one state are earning far above what they should to qualify for the homes, with one couple on $200k paying just $200 a week in rent.

The Queensland government is cracking down on the income of social housing tenants, as figures reveal people earning far above income thresholds are benefiting from subsidised housing.

“Labor turned a blind eye for years,” Housing Minister Sam O’Connor said on Monday.

“They stopped checking if people still qualified for social housing, and they let rent reviews fall by the wayside.

“It’s unbelievable they let people on six-figure incomes stay in social homes for years while others in urgent need were left on the social housing waitlist.”

Information released by the state government on Monday showed a small number of notable rorts were being carried out by social housing tenants.

Queensland Housing Minister Sam O'Connor says pandemic-era social housing allowances need to be unwound. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

A Brisbane couple who earnt $200,000 (before tax) were living in a subsidised rental paying $200 a week, Mr O’Connor said in a statement.

The government says it has identified a household in Moreton Bay, being paid almost $3500 a week (before tax), occupying a large social housing property and paying $270 a week – this property would rent for $650 a week on the open market.

In another example, a Townsville family earning more than $160,000 a year (pre-tax) paid less than $190 a week in rent when Townsville median rents were $500 per week.

A statement from the minister said these tenants were “earning” these salaries – NewsWire has confirmed with his office that the figures are pre-tax.

In Queensland, a single person with no kids must take home less than $610 a week to qualify for social housing. A couple with two kids cannot be earning more than $1000.

As it stands, social housing tenants must pay 25 per cent of their income on rent; this will remain under the new shake-up.

People earning far more than the social housing threshold have been uncovered across Queensland. Picture: NewsWire / Dan Peled

However, under the crackdown, all social housing tenants will be subject to annual rent reviews. If someone is paying less than 25 per cent, annual rent hikes will be capped at $15.

Any tenant who cannot verify their income will then have to pay market rent and then will be evicted.

The crackdown has a focus on households with spare bedrooms. Figures provided by the minister say 8000 social housing households are “under-occupying” their homes by two or more bedrooms.

People would not be forced to downsize, Mr O’Connor said. Instead, removalist costs or rent-free periods would be offered as incentives.

“We’re empowering our housing officers to do what they do best – support the Queenslanders who most need a roof over their heads,” Mr O’Connor said.

“These are long overdue changes to fix the system so it’s better targeted to help the people who need housing most.”

There are more than 52,000 people on Queensland’s social housing waitlist.

The previous state government paused social housing evictions and yearly rent reviews during the pandemic.

Originally published as ‘Unbelievable’: Qld cracks whip on social housing rorters