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Tenants urged to get ready for new public housing rent collection overhaul

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The Territory Government is changing the way it collects rent for remote tenants in Tennant Creek and Barkly communities. The Remote Rent Framework will launch on 6 February with information now being rolled out across communities, towns, camps and community living areas.

The new framework creates a system that is fair, easy to understand and administer, removes the need for bond, and charges tenants a flat rate of $70 per bedroom a week.

The people on the tenancy agreements, termed the “house boss or co-boss”, will be in charge of collecting rent from everyone who lives in the house to make sure rent is paid on time.

Minister for Housing and Homelands Selena Uibo said the Territory Labor Government’s investment in remote housing is unprecedented.

“Our new Remote Rent Framework will streamline the management of tenancies as we continue to build and upgrade more homes, and improve liveability right across the NT,” she said.

“However, we want to ensure our tenants and stakeholders feel informed about the changes and over the next five months we will revisit communities, town camps and community living areas to explain the new Framework in more detail.”

Under the new system, there will be a rise in rent for around 65 per cent of households in the Territory – however the Minister Uibo said it is important to note it is the first increase for remote public housing tenants in nearly a decade.

“The Territory Labor Government will automatically provide a rental safety net to tenants identified as ‘at risk’ of rental stress when the new Remote Rent Framework comes into effect,” she said.

In rolling out the new framework, historical rental arrears accrued up until 11 December 2021 have been waived.

Nearly $70 million in rent was not collected for more than 11 years, providing a major shortfall of reinvestment back into repairs and maintenance of public housing. For more information, visit https://tfhc.nt.gov.au/housing-and-homelessness/rent-reform-framework.

Tennant & District Times 25 November 2022

This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 25 November 2022.

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