❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding public housing occupancy rates and turnaround times for re-letting properties between 2020-2022. The answer provides occupancy data by region and average re-let times, but lacks specific data on non-tenantable properties.
AnsweredQoN 1274Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
For each of the 2020, 2021 and 2022 calendar years, with respect to public housing properties managed by the State Government: (a) what was the occupancy rate of all properties, broken down by region and property type; (b) what was the median and average turnaround time to relet a vacated, tenantable property; and (c) what was the median and average turnaround time to complete works and let an non-tenantable property?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 June 2023
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
19 days
The Department of Communities (Communities) maintains a significant property portfolio and manages it to best meet the needs of the community and ensure that public housing properties are safe, habitable, and functional in accordance with tenants’ needs.
Occupancy rate is always a single point in time number that fluctuates for a range of reasons. Properties may be awaiting acceptance of offers from applicants or undergoing maintenance repairs or refurbishment prior to new occupants moving in. This also includes properties that have been spot purchased, which may require refurbishment to be brought up to clean, safe and working order.
Levels of occupancy fluctuate by region for a range of reasons including areas where there are higher levels of ageing stock or where stock is located in areas of low demand.
Between 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2022, Communities has increased State-wide occupancy.
Public Housing State-wide Stock, By Region - as at 31 December 2020
Region
Occupied
Returning Voids
1 North Metro
11,236
157
2 South Metro
6,684
89
3 East Metro
6,310
125
4 Great Southern
1,067
36
5 Southwest
2,360
57
6 Goldfields
903
73
7 Midwest/Gascoyne
1,443
134
8 Pilbara
1,260
87
A West Kimberley
1,174
49
B Wheatbelt
966
36
C East Kimberley
573
22
Total
33,976
865
Public Housing State-wide Stock, By Region - as at 31 December 2021
Region
Occupied
Returning Voids
1 North Metro
11,200
245
2 South Metro
6,602
168
3 East Metro
6,310
146
4 Great Southern
1,074
30
5 Southwest
2,346
73
6 Goldfields
845
135
7 Midwest/Gascoyne
1,442
165
8 Pilbara
1,247
95
A West Kimberley
1,171
47
B Wheatbelt
958
41
C East Kimberley
563
33
Total
33,758
1,178
Public Housing State-wide Stock, By Region - as at 31 December 2022
Region
Occupied
Returning Voids
1 North Metro
11,388
351
2 South Metro
6,659
250
3 East Metro
6,403
164
4 Great Southern
1,095
29
5 Southwest
2,363
61
6 Goldfields
862
115
7 Midwest/Gascoyne
1,447
198
8 Pilbara
1,238
148
A West Kimberley
1,172
46
B Wheatbelt
965
46
C East Kimberley
579
29
Total
34,171
1,437
Occupied: Includes Occupied and Other Use Properties. Other Use: Include externally managed properties and tenancies. Data does not include non- returning voids (vacant) as these dwellings are not returning to stock to be tenanted.
(b)
As recently released in the recent Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services 2023 ( www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2023 ) the average times for re-let in Western Australia in:
o 2021-22 was 34.7 days
o 2020-21 was 36.8 days
o 2019-20 was 40.5 days
o 2018-19 was 35.6 days
o 2017-18 was 29.8 days
(c) Non-tenantable properties, for example where there is significant damage and are beyond economical repair are removed from the relet process and considered for redevelopment. It should be noted that disposals are at historic lows.
Occupancy rate is always a single point in time number that fluctuates for a range of reasons. Properties may be awaiting acceptance of offers from applicants or undergoing maintenance repairs or refurbishment prior to new occupants moving in. This also includes properties that have been spot purchased, which may require refurbishment to be brought up to clean, safe and working order.
Levels of occupancy fluctuate by region for a range of reasons including areas where there are higher levels of ageing stock or where stock is located in areas of low demand.
Between 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2022, Communities has increased State-wide occupancy.
Public Housing State-wide Stock, By Region - as at 31 December 2020
Region
Occupied
Returning Voids
1 North Metro
11,236
157
2 South Metro
6,684
89
3 East Metro
6,310
125
4 Great Southern
1,067
36
5 Southwest
2,360
57
6 Goldfields
903
73
7 Midwest/Gascoyne
1,443
134
8 Pilbara
1,260
87
A West Kimberley
1,174
49
B Wheatbelt
966
36
C East Kimberley
573
22
Total
33,976
865
Public Housing State-wide Stock, By Region - as at 31 December 2021
Region
Occupied
Returning Voids
1 North Metro
11,200
245
2 South Metro
6,602
168
3 East Metro
6,310
146
4 Great Southern
1,074
30
5 Southwest
2,346
73
6 Goldfields
845
135
7 Midwest/Gascoyne
1,442
165
8 Pilbara
1,247
95
A West Kimberley
1,171
47
B Wheatbelt
958
41
C East Kimberley
563
33
Total
33,758
1,178
Public Housing State-wide Stock, By Region - as at 31 December 2022
Region
Occupied
Returning Voids
1 North Metro
11,388
351
2 South Metro
6,659
250
3 East Metro
6,403
164
4 Great Southern
1,095
29
5 Southwest
2,363
61
6 Goldfields
862
115
7 Midwest/Gascoyne
1,447
198
8 Pilbara
1,238
148
A West Kimberley
1,172
46
B Wheatbelt
965
46
C East Kimberley
579
29
Total
34,171
1,437
Occupied: Includes Occupied and Other Use Properties. Other Use: Include externally managed properties and tenancies. Data does not include non- returning voids (vacant) as these dwellings are not returning to stock to be tenanted.
(b)
As recently released in the recent Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services 2023 ( www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2023 ) the average times for re-let in Western Australia in:
o 2021-22 was 34.7 days
o 2020-21 was 36.8 days
o 2019-20 was 40.5 days
o 2018-19 was 35.6 days
o 2017-18 was 29.8 days
(c) Non-tenantable properties, for example where there is significant damage and are beyond economical repair are removed from the relet process and considered for redevelopment. It should be noted that disposals are at historic lows.
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