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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-03-24 Daily Xml
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Housing SA Tenancies

Mr KNOLL (Schubert) (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Social Housing. Can the minister detail why her department found no basis for complaints made by residents of Housing SA properties that a tenant was subletting his taxpayer-funded property to tourists, despite a public internet advertisement that had been up since 2012?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:52): This was raised with me recently by the member for Unley, and I understand that there was an investigation at the time. The member for Unley has had a long-term relationship with the tenant involved. There has been substantial—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: In his role as his local member, may I add. Let me be very clear: Housing SA's conditions of tenancy state that a tenant must have written permission before subletting all or any part of the premises. If carrying out a trade or a business on the premises, any tenant must declare any changes to their income, if they receive a subsidised rent, to determine the correct rent payable. If that person failed to declare this rent, let me say it is not only that Housing SA would be concerned with this additional rent but so would Centrelink if this person received a pension. This would result in the tenant's being asked to repay the rent or it could result in the tenant's eviction.

This issue was raised with me and I immediately said that I would have an additional investigation. I was advised in the initial investigation that couchsurfing.com was something where some people didn't charge for renting out rooms, and that was the understanding at the time.

Ms Redmond: What did the second investigation say?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: I am continuing the investigation. Let me be clear that we ask people, if they are receiving additional income, to let us know. The other thing is if they are—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: But as this person's income relates to the percentage of rent that they paid, to me this would not be an acceptable form of income because it is a privilege to be a Housing SA resident and we would ask them to look at that. One of the other things I have asked the department to do is a review, because obviously if social media advertising rents a room, we need to make sure that all of our policy covers some of the contemporary ways people go ahead.

The SPEAKER: Supplementary, member for Schubert.

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