Ms MARTIN - 1996-09-17
Over the last 2 years, this CLP government has jacked up the rent for Housing Commission tenants by 17%. Tenants want to know what they are getting for their money. Can tenants expect an improvement in maintenance now that they are paying an extra 17% on their rent? How long does the minister think is a reasonable time between paint jobs for a Housing Commission house or flat?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member for Fannie Bay constantly criticises the staff of the Housing Commission. They work very hard to maintain an appropriate standard of service under very trying circumstances at times. The maintenance of the commission's stock poses some very difficult problems. Some tenants of Housing Commission residences look after them very well and rarely call upon the services of the Housing Commission for maintenance purposes. However, there are other tenants who are constantly calling on the services of the commission in that regard.
Ms Martin: Now that the rents have gone up, will there be more maintenance?
Mr PALMER: Mr Speaker, the rents have gone up. However, let me make it quite clear that no one in a Housing Commission residence pays more than 25% of their income in rent. No aged pensioner will pay more than 14% of their income and no supporting parent will pay more than 18% of their income. We are still well behind market rent in what we are achieving.
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Some recognition has to be given that we are not recouping capital on these. The Housing Commission does its best to maintain those properties in reasonable condition. Every time a place is vacated, the property managers will examine it and assess whether there is a need for major works, whether there is a need for a total repaint, whether the windows have to be replaced etc. All units are cleaned professionally before they are handed over.
It should be recognised that there is some responsibility on tenants to maintain their property. The Housing Commission has a program of regular and cyclical maintenance. However, individual residents may feel that their property is not being maintained to the standard they would like. From time to time, they approach the Housing Commission. We have a program whereby those tenants are encouraged, where they can, to undertake internal painting themselves. There is nothing wrong with that.
Ms Martin: What if they are 80 years old? What about a single parent with 4 children? When can they do it?
Mr PALMER: I said `where they can'. Do you have wax in your ears?
Ms Martin: No.
Mr PALMER: You must have your fingers in them.
Ms Martin: I am talking about those kinds of people.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Fannie Bay will have opportunities for questioning the Minister for Housing during the budget debate.
Mr PALMER: She sounds like a banshee wailing away over there. The grim reaper!
As I said, the Housing Commission does have cyclical maintenance programs and it attempts to undertake what maintenance it can. Obviously, aged pensioners and the infirm, those who cannot maintain their properties, are given special consideration. However, there will be instances where people may feel that maintenance has not been carried out quickly enough.
I repeat that no Housing Commission tenant in the Northern Territory is required to pay more than 25% of their income in rent. No aged pensioner in the Northern Territory is required to pay more than 14% of their income in rent. No supporting parent is required to pay more than 18% of their income in rent. In fact, the recent rent increases have had, in many instances, minimal or no impact. It is a very difficult area. We are not recouping capital. We have simply to manage the resources as best we may.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member for Fannie Bay constantly criticises the staff of the Housing Commission. They work very hard to maintain an appropriate standard of service under very trying circumstances at times. The maintenance of the commission's stock poses some very difficult problems. Some tenants of Housing Commission residences look after them very well and rarely call upon the services of the Housing Commission for maintenance purposes. However, there are other tenants who are constantly calling on the services of the commission in that regard.
Ms Martin: Now that the rents have gone up, will there be more maintenance?
Mr PALMER: Mr Speaker, the rents have gone up. However, let me make it quite clear that no one in a Housing Commission residence pays more than 25% of their income in rent. No aged pensioner will pay more than 14% of their income and no supporting parent will pay more than 18% of their income. We are still well behind market rent in what we are achieving.
Page 1593
Some recognition has to be given that we are not recouping capital on these. The Housing Commission does its best to maintain those properties in reasonable condition. Every time a place is vacated, the property managers will examine it and assess whether there is a need for major works, whether there is a need for a total repaint, whether the windows have to be replaced etc. All units are cleaned professionally before they are handed over.
It should be recognised that there is some responsibility on tenants to maintain their property. The Housing Commission has a program of regular and cyclical maintenance. However, individual residents may feel that their property is not being maintained to the standard they would like. From time to time, they approach the Housing Commission. We have a program whereby those tenants are encouraged, where they can, to undertake internal painting themselves. There is nothing wrong with that.
Ms Martin: What if they are 80 years old? What about a single parent with 4 children? When can they do it?
Mr PALMER: I said `where they can'. Do you have wax in your ears?
Ms Martin: No.
Mr PALMER: You must have your fingers in them.
Ms Martin: I am talking about those kinds of people.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for Fannie Bay will have opportunities for questioning the Minister for Housing during the budget debate.
Mr PALMER: She sounds like a banshee wailing away over there. The grim reaper!
As I said, the Housing Commission does have cyclical maintenance programs and it attempts to undertake what maintenance it can. Obviously, aged pensioners and the infirm, those who cannot maintain their properties, are given special consideration. However, there will be instances where people may feel that maintenance has not been carried out quickly enough.
I repeat that no Housing Commission tenant in the Northern Territory is required to pay more than 25% of their income in rent. No aged pensioner in the Northern Territory is required to pay more than 14% of their income in rent. No supporting parent is required to pay more than 18% of their income in rent. In fact, the recent rent increases have had, in many instances, minimal or no impact. It is a very difficult area. We are not recouping capital. We have simply to manage the resources as best we may.
Page 1594
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016