RLC welcomes the opportunity to make a submission in response to the Legislative Assembly Inquiry conducted by the Public Accounts Committee into Tenancy Management arrangements in NSW Social Housing.
RLC has a long history of providing advice, assistance and advocacy to the local community, with a key focus on the provision of information and services to public housing tenants and a strong emphasis on the prevention of homelessness. Our submission is informed by the experiences of our clients, the majority of whom are public housing tenants.
RLC has made thirteen recommendations:
- avoid litigation and use of the Tribunal whenever it is possible to negotiate an outcome
- simplify Housing NSW policy so that staff using the policies can apply them accurately and consistently
- improve access to policies by making them shorter, clearly titled and easy to find
- form an effective partnership with NSW Health to approach mental health issues from a health perspective and non-punitive outcomes
- additional resources to directly assist tenants with mental illness
- LAHC continue to work with Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Services in NSW to develop a plan to improve response to tenants’ request for repairs
- Adequate written reasons for decision provided by Housing NSW, containing information and particular that the tenant can respond to
- Place more stringent procedural fairness requirements on the Housing Appeal Committee
- HAC decisions be binding
- HAC decision to be appealable to the NCAT
- Improved recruitment, training and support for housing NSW frontline staff
- Reduced number of tenants that CSOs provide services to
- Focus on staff retention and reduction on moving staff from one office to another
Read RLC’s submission.