Housing Stock Transfer from the Government Sector in NSW

Tenants have not been told the full story, nor have they been informed of the true nature of the change in their tenancies, and the impact on their lifestyle, their family, and personal finances, when moving over to a Community Housing sector landlord. They have been treated as mere chattels whilst being pressured to change their landlord. Every pressure tactic known to commission agent salespeople, including the offer of cash inducements, undelivered promises, and offers of free steak knives, masquerading as overdue outstanding maintenance works being performed, has been applied to them. They have been told that they will have to leave the area where they grew up and their children are going to school if they do not transfer to a community housing landlord.

This practice, in its current round, began at Mudgee, flourished at Chifley, travelled to Redfern, and has just been implemented at South Coogee. The excesses of noncompliance and dubious practice at South Coogee were such as to cause the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to produce and air a feature segment on their 7:30 Report program. This program identified dubious practice and actions outside of Housing NSW’s Operational Policy and Code of Conduct on the part of both Housing NSW and the Community Housing sector member associated with the housing stock transfer at South Coogee.

The decision to transfer title for Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan [NBESP] housing stock to the nongovernment sector prior to it being tenanted will prevent sitting Public Housing tenants experiencing such situations. However it does nothing to address Housing NSW’s current and past Code of Conduct breaches arising from transfer of existing public housing stock, nor will it prevent future breaches arising from transfer of non NBESP stock.

Ross Smith
Waterloo

References:

www.housing.nsw.gov.au/Forms+Policies+and+Fact+Sheets/Policies/Commitment+to+Service+and+Code+of+Conduct+-+EST0006B.htm

www.housing.nsw.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/B0322BBE-095E-4FAF-AABA-D29B9ADB3CAE/0/CodeofConductandEthics.pdf

www.housing.nsw.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/53BE3776-FA81-4EB2-85AE-29F820A69942/0/StatementofBusinessEthics.pdf

www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2778921.htm

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