Latest news with #SamOConnor
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Unbelievable': Crackdown on housing rort
The Queensland government is cracking down on the income of social housing tenants, as figures reveal people earning far above income thresholds are benefiting from subsidised housing. 'Labor turned a blind eye for years,' Housing Minister Sam O'Connor said on Monday. 'They stopped checking if people still qualified for social housing, and they let rent reviews fall by the wayside. 'It's unbelievable they let people on six-figure incomes stay in social homes for years while others in urgent need were left on the social housing waitlist.' Information released by the state government on Monday showed a small number of notable rorts were being carried out by social housing tenants. A Brisbane couple who earnt $200,000 (before tax) were living in a subsidised rental paying $200 a week, Mr O'Connor said in a statement. The government says it has identified a household in Moreton Bay, being paid almost $3500 a week (before tax), occupying a large social housing property and paying $270 a week – this property would rent for $650 a week on the open market. In another example, a Townsville family earning more than $160,000 a year (pre-tax) paid less than $190 a week in rent when Townsville median rents were $500 per week. A statement from the minister said these tenants were 'earning' these salaries – NewsWire has confirmed with his office that the figures are pre-tax. In Queensland, a single person with no kids must take home less than $610 a week to qualify for social housing. A couple with two kids cannot be earning more than $1000. As it stands, social housing tenants must pay 25 per cent of their income on rent; this will remain under the new shake-up. However, under the crackdown, all social housing tenants will be subject to annual rent reviews. If someone is paying less than 25 per cent, annual rent hikes will be capped at $15. Any tenant who cannot verify their income will then have to pay market rent and then will be evicted. The crackdown has a focus on households with spare bedrooms. Figures provided by the minister say 8000 social housing households are 'under-occupying' their homes by two or more bedrooms. People would not be forced to downsize, Mr O'Connor said. Instead, removalist costs or rent-free periods would be offered as incentives. 'We're empowering our housing officers to do what they do best – support the Queenslanders who most need a roof over their heads,' Mr O'Connor said. 'These are long overdue changes to fix the system so it's better targeted to help the people who need housing most.' There are more than 52,000 people on Queensland's social housing waitlist. The previous state government paused social housing evictions and yearly rent reviews during the pandemic. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Unbelievable': Qld cracks whip on social housing rorters
The Queensland government is cracking down on the income of social housing tenants, as figures reveal people earning far above income thresholds are benefiting from subsidised housing. 'Labor turned a blind eye for years,' Housing Minister Sam O'Connor said on Monday. 'They stopped checking if people still qualified for social housing, and they let rent reviews fall by the wayside. 'It's unbelievable they let people on six-figure incomes stay in social homes for years while others in urgent need were left on the social housing waitlist.' Information released by the state government on Monday showed a small number of notable rorts were being carried out by social housing tenants. A Brisbane couple who earnt $200,000 (before tax) were living in a subsidised rental paying $200 a week, Mr O'Connor said in a statement. The government says it has identified a household in Moreton Bay, being paid almost $3500 a week (before tax), occupying a large social housing property and paying $270 a week – this property would rent for $650 a week on the open market. In another example, a Townsville family earning more than $160,000 a year (pre-tax) paid less than $190 a week in rent when Townsville median rents were $500 per week. A statement from the minister said these tenants were 'earning' these salaries – NewsWire has confirmed with his office that the figures are pre-tax. In Queensland, a single person with no kids must take home less than $610 a week to qualify for social housing. A couple with two kids cannot be earning more than $1000. As it stands, social housing tenants must pay 25 per cent of their income on rent; this will remain under the new shake-up. However, under the crackdown, all social housing tenants will be subject to annual rent reviews. If someone is paying less than 25 per cent, annual rent hikes will be capped at $15. Any tenant who cannot verify their income will then have to pay market rent and then will be evicted. The crackdown has a focus on households with spare bedrooms. Figures provided by the minister say 8000 social housing households are 'under-occupying' their homes by two or more bedrooms. People would not be forced to downsize, Mr O'Connor said. Instead, removalist costs or rent-free periods would be offered as incentives. 'We're empowering our housing officers to do what they do best – support the Queenslanders who most need a roof over their heads,' Mr O'Connor said. 'These are long overdue changes to fix the system so it's better targeted to help the people who need housing most.' There are more than 52,000 people on Queensland's social housing waitlist.
ABC News
11 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Queensland government to begin social housing rent reviews to free up spaces for those in 'most need'
Social housing recipients in Queensland earning more than they should will soon be evicted from their homes to make way for new tenants. The state government claims there are some recipients earning well above the income limit that determines who is eligible for social housing. This includes a couple in Brisbane taking home more than $200,000 a year while paying less than $200 a week to live in their social housing unit. The government says another family in Townsville is paying less than $190 per week in rent despite earning an annual income of more than $160,000. From July 1, the government will launch annual rent reviews to determine if social housing recipients are still within the income limit. In Queensland, the income limit for a single person with no children is $609 per week, while for a couple it is set at $755. Tenants pay 25 per cent of their income. Those who are found to earn more than the limit will be charged at market rental rates, before they are evicted and transitioned to other housing options. Tenants who are within the housing limit but not paying 25 per cent of their income will have their rent increased, but the increase will be capped at $15 per week. Housing Minister Sam O'Connor said the government wants to make social housing available for vulnerable people and families. "We're empowering our housing officers to do what they do best — support the Queenslanders who most need a roof over their heads," he said. "These are long overdue changes to fix the system so it's better targeted to help the people who need housing most." In a bid to free up properties that are underoccupied, the government will also introduce a scheme to incentivise tenants to downsize to smaller social homes. The government hopes this will allow more families to move into social housing. The incentives will include rent free periods, as well covering the costs of removalists. The government estimates thousands of bedrooms in the state's social housing stock are vacant. About 50,000 people were on Queensland's social housing register as of December last year.
