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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-11-25 Daily Xml
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Answers to Questions

TENANTS' INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY SERVICE

22 Mr HANNA (Mitchell) (30 September 2008).

1. Will the budget for the new Tenants' Information and Advocacy Service be increased to compensate for the closure of Housing Advisory Service for SA and, if not, how will this service represent tenants from the private sector?

2. Will there be additional funding for early intervention and mediation strategies?

3. Will every person facing eviction have the right of representation before the Residential Tenancies Tribunal?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Northern Suburbs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability): I provide the following information:

1. In 2006 the scope of the former Housing Advice and Support SA (HASSA) service was expanded to include clients from the private rental market, and an additional $50,000pa (GST exclusive) was allocated to fund the service under the new name of the Tenants Information and Advocacy Service (TIAS).

TIAS commenced operating as of 1 January 2007 and now targets its services towards low income tenants of both social and private rental housing. Since its establishment TIAS has had increasing demand from the private rental sector. In the financial year 2007-08, TIAS worked with 2,244 clients, 54 per cent of whom were private renters.

The service is monitored on an ongoing basis with quarterly meetings held between officers of my department and TIAS. In this financial year (2008-09) the service will receive $371,300 (GST exclusive). TIAS is currently funded through the Minister’s Housing Advice and Community Fund (MHACF) until 30 June 2009. Prior to the completion of this service period, a performance and funding review will be undertaken to determine appropriate funding for the period 2009-10.

2. Early intervention is the most effective way in which tenancy matters can be prevented from escalating into a dispute. TIAS is funded to provide a range of services intended to educate tenants and provide them with information regarding rights and responsibilities. Tenants are routinely encouraged to engage with mediation processes and are assisted to advocate directly with housing providers or agents.

TIAS works in collaboration with the services provided by the Residential Tenancies Branch of the Office of Consumer and Business Affairs, and works in tandem with the Housing Appeals Unit and the Residential Tenancies Tribunal (RTT), to help secure sustainable housing outcomes for clients. The service also works closely with the Housing Legal Clinic and community legal centres. Current funding incorporates provision for early intervention and mediation and quarterly review meetings and service monitoring has not indicated a need to increase the existing level of funding.

3. All clients are assisted to maximise the use of legal entitlements and exercise their rights effectively. In doing so TIAS supports clients in a range of ways, only one of which is via direct representation at hearings of the Residential Tenancies Tribunal. Prior to any formal hearing process being undertaken, clients are supported with information, referral, negotiation, mediation and/or advocacy and these means are frequently successful, thereby avoiding the need for a formal hearing.

The success of this approach is reflected in the high proportion (63.5 per cent) of clients stating they have developed a greater awareness of their rights and responsibilities as a result of TIAS involvement.

According to the 2006 Census data, 156,140 of South Australian dwellings were rental properties. Over two thirds of these were private rental properties with approximately 55,400 occupied by low income families. All these households are eligible to receive services from TIAS.

In those situations where a formal RTT hearing was required, TIAS has had much success in assisting clients. 33 of the 58 RTT hearings through which TIAS supported tenants during the period 2007-08 resulted in sustainable housing outcomes.

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