Remote Housing NT
What is Remote Housing NT?
Remote Housing NT is a new system to manage public housing in remote communities across the Northern Territory .
Why is it needed?
Many of the houses in remote communities are overcrowded and in poor condition. The new remote housing system better meets the needs of remote Indigenous communities by providing more houses and fixing existing houses to ensure safer and healthier housing.
What does the new system involve?
It involves a number of key changes including:
- more houses and improved housing standards
- more job opportunities for local people
- the involvement of community people in remote housing decision making the need for tenants to sign a tenancy agreement
- payment of fair rent
- an improved process for repairs and maintenance to homes
- improved tenant support services.
What are the benefits?
Benefits include:
- waiting lists based on need
- fair rent
- effective maintenance services
- support services for tenants to ensure they understand their rights and responsibilities
- community input to housing issues
- local employment and training opportunities.
Who is responsible for it?
The Australian and Northern Territory Governments are working in partnership with communities to deliver improved housing management services in the 73 prescribed Indigenous communities identified by the Northern Territory emergency Response Act 2007.
At the local level, there are two different arrangements in place:
Shire councils will look after some aspects of housing management (particularly repairs and maintenance) in some communities as an agent for Housing Services (which will retain most tenancy management responsibilities).
Housing Services will directly undertake housing management in some communities.
When will the changes start?
Interim changes to tenancy arrangements and repairs and maintenance started in mid 2008 and the first construction work on new and refurbished houses commenced in 2009.
It will take three to five years to implement the new remote housing system across the Northern Territory with all construction work to be complete by 2013.