Tasmanian Homes Amendment Bill Moderninses Housing Assistance and Services
Tuesday 15 March 2016 @ 11.20 a.m. | Legal Research | Trade & Commerce
Last Tuesday (8 March 2016), the Tasmanian Minister for Human Services introduced into the Legislative Assembly a Bill to modernise the provision of housing assistance and homelessness services by the Director of Housing.
The Homes Amendment Bill 2016 (Tas) (the Bill) amends the Homes Act 1935 (Tas) (1935 Act) and Residential Tenancy Act 1997 (Tas) (1997 Act) to reflect the changing needs of Tasmanians seeking housing assistance, as well as increased government engagement with the non-government sector to deliver homelessness services.
Purpose of the Bill
The 1935 Act aims to assist people in purchasing houses and land for the purposes of building new homes. The Minister for Human Services, Jacquie Petrusma, proposed an update on the 1935 Act in order to “recognise the contemporary functions of the Director of Housing and the various ways that housing assistance is now delivered”. Such functions include:
- Nation Building Economic Stimulus Package;
- National Rental Affordability Scheme;
- Better Housing Futures;
- Housing Connect;
- Home Share;
- Streets Ahead; and
- Supported Accommodation Facilities and crisis shelters.
Amendments to the Homes Act
The proposed Bill amends the 1935 Act so that it is gender-neutral, removing the assumption that the Director of Housing is male. Language and terminologies (such as 'servants') have been updated.
The Bill establishes the capacity of the Director of Housing to lease, transfer or sell homes and land; and provide grant funding for the purpose of providing housing assistance or services to eligible persons. The Director will also need the Minister’s approval before land and/or dwelling-houses can be leased, transferred or sold to housing providers.
The Bill also enables the transfer or sale of land and/or dwelling houses to housing providers, subject to Tasmania’s Affording Housing Action Plan 2015-19 – this is to ensure such transfers are used to benefit eligible people in need of housing assistance.
Amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act
The Bill amends the 1997 Act to enable social housing providers, who are not in occupation of lease premises, to sub-lease those premises to tenants. This will provide support for Tasmanians escaping family/domestic violence by granting them full protection of the 1997 Act, while being assisted into furnished private rental homes with support in line with the Government's Safe Homes, Safe Families: Tasmania's Violence Action Plan 2015-2020.
Next Steps
The Bill is expected to pass through the Legislative Assembly to the Legislative Council without amendment.
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