Q&A

What will the rent be for the new houses?

Department of Local Government and Housing is developing a rental framework specifically for remote public housing.  Rents will be fair and equitable and will take into account the type of house and tenants’ income.  Rent collected from tenants will directly contribute to meeting the costs of repairs and maintenance, management of the tenancy and support for tenants.

People who live in older houses that are not upgraded through SIHIP will continue to pay the same rent as they currently pay.

How will rent be calculated?

Rents will be set for each house, based upon the combined income of the occupants up to a set maximum amount. This is consistent with how rents are set for public housing tenants in Darwin and Alice Springs. Department of Local Government and Housing will also offer assistance to tenants who are facing difficulties and may need help with making their rental payments. 

Will residents have to sign a tenancy agreement?

Residents that are allocated a new house or a refurbished house that meets the Residential Tenancies Act standard - that is either a new house, upgraded or a refurbished house - will be required to sign a tenancy agreement.

What happens if tenants get behind on paying rent?

Paying rent is a requirement of all tenants in public housing, and Department of Local Government and Housing will offer tenants help where they are facing financial difficulties. Tenants will be alerted as soon as rent falls behind by one week and Department of Local Government and Housing will then help set up a plan to pay off the outstanding amount.  Tenants will be also offered assistance in setting and managing household budgets.

Will rent increase  – how will this be calculated?

Rent will be linked to income and will therefore rise as income rises. However a maximum rent will be set for every house and tenants will not pay more than this amount.

How are houses allocated? Can Department of Local Government and Housing guarantee that the house will be passed onto the same family?

Department of Local Government and Housing is committed to ensuring that people living in remote Indigenous communities who are most in need of housing will be housed first.  Department of Local Government and Housing will work with community housing reference groups to ensure equity in the allocation of housing. For these reasons, Department of Local Government and Housing cannot guarantee that a house will be passed from family member to family member.

What are tenants’ responsibilities?

There are a number of things that tenants are responsible for but the main three are:  paying rent on time looking after the house (keeping it clean and tidy including the yard) respecting neighbours by keeping noise levels low and behaving in a way that tenants would expect others, including guests, to behave.

Who will undertake repairs and maintenance on house, including urgent matters?

In most communities, shire councils have been engaged to provide repairs and maintenance services on behalf of Department of Local Government and Housing.  Department of Local Government and Housing requires that shires address tenants’ concerns and undertake work in a timely manner.  Tenants have been provided with details on who to contact in the community to request repairs and maintenance on their houses. 

Are these arrangements already in place in any communities?

Department of Local Government and Housing is managing new houses at Nguiu and Santa Teresa.  In these communities, Department of Local Government and Housing worked with the Housing Reference Group to identify those most in need of housing assistance.   Proposed allocations were discussed with the community to ensure that local issues were taken into account. The community’s Housing Reference Group endorsed the allocations.  Tenants of the new houses were then provided with information on how to best manage their tenancy including their rights and obligations as tenants. 

Will tenants eventually be able to buy these houses?

The Australian and Northern Territory Governments are keen to increase home ownership among Indigenous people.  This is an important part of the future direction of housing on remote communities and work is continuing in this area.

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