‘Unbelievable’: Qld cracks whip on social housing | Australian Markets

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

“Labor turned a blind eye for years,” Housing Minister Sam O’Connor stated 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 launched by the state authorities on Monday confirmed a small quantity of notable rorts had been being carried out by social housing tenants.

A Brisbane couple who earnt $200,000 (earlier than tax) had been dwelling in a subsidised rental paying $200 a week, Mr O’Connor stated in a assertion.

The authorities says it has recognized a family in Moreton Bay, being paid nearly $3500 a week (earlier than tax), occupying a giant social housing property and paying $270 a week – this property would rent for $650 a week on the open market.

In one other instance, a Townsville household incomes more than $160,000 a yr (pre-tax) paid much less than $190 a week in rent when Townsville median rents had been $500 per week.

An announcement from the minister stated these tenants had been “earning” these salaries – NewsWire has confirmed along with his workplace that the figures are pre-tax.

In Queensland, a single particular person with no children should take home much less than $610 a week to qualify for social housing. A pair with two children can’t be incomes more than $1000.

As it stands, social housing tenants should pay 25 per cent of their income on rent; this may stay underneath the new shake-up.

However, underneath the crackdown, all social housing tenants will probably be subject to annual rent critiques. If somebody is paying much less than 25 per cent, annual rent hikes will probably be capped at $15.

Any tenant who can not confirm their income will then need to pay market rent after which will probably be evicted.

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

People wouldn’t be pressured to downsize, Mr O’Connor stated. Instead, removalist prices or rent-free intervals could be supplied 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 stated.

“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 earlier state authorities paused social housing evictions and yearly rent critiques during the pandemic.