Household Occupancy Survey

In reply to Ms SANDERSON (Adelaide) (17 November 2015).

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I have been advised:

1. Statistical data on the Household Occupancy Declaration (HOD) process was not maintained; therefore it is not possible to make a verifiable comparison between the numbers of respondents under each process.

Following the August 2014 Housing Occupancy Survey (HOS), Housing SA was contacted by 43 tenants advising of a change in household circumstances.

In the September 2015 HOS, Housing SA was contacted by 31 tenants advising of a change in household circumstances.

2. As statistical data on the former Household Occupancy Declaration (HOD) process was not maintained, it is not possible to estimate any potential loss of rental income, if any, due to changes in the system.

3. The replacement HOS enables current staffing numbers to manage the HOS process without the need for additional staff.

The HOD and HOS processes both target Income Confirmation Service (ICS) tenancies, currently about 31,000. However as it was compulsory for tenants to respond to the HOD, the HOD had a greater resource and administration burden for Housing SA, requiring it to review, assess and action approximately 31,000 responses. The new household occupancy survey only requires tenants to respond if there is a change in their household occupancy.