❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding public housing stock, re-letting times, vacancy rates, refurbishment costs, and maintenance response times. The response provides data and explanations, but lacks specific details in some areas.
AnsweredQoN 562Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Minister and Director General's responses in LA Estimates regarding the State's public housing stock, and I ask: (a) What is the average time taken to re-let a social housing property; (b) What is the percentage of first-offer turn-downs? And what reasons are commonly given; (c) Of the 1688 vacant properties as at 31 May, what is the average vacancy time recorded; (d) What is the average spend on a refurbishment; (e) What is the reason(s) and future plan(s) for the 302 vacant properties identified as not being returned to stock; (f) What is the average time for a priority one maintenance task to be carried out; and (g) What percentage of total housing stock in WA is counted as social housing?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works
Response time
6 days
a) As per the Report on Government Services 2025 released in June, average turnaround times for vacant public housing stock in WA is 80.6 days. This includes homes that required hundreds of thousands of dollars in works to return the property to use. The vast majority of properties were returned in 14 days.
b) Data for the percentage of first-offer turn-downs of public housing applications and reasonings are not captured in a reportable data table. Providing this data would require a manual review of individual case files and is not considered a reasonable use of government resources. Common reasons for applicants turning down a property are due to changing personal circumstances which can include changes to the number of householders, changes to preferred locations or applicants securing other accommodation.
c) As at 31 May 2025, the average relet time for public housing was 21 weeks. This includes homes that required hundreds of thousands of dollars in works to return the property to use. The vast majority of properties were returned in 14 days.
d) Refurbishment costs will vary depending on the location and the scope of works required. Refurbishments often require multiple trades and substantial works to the property and some examples include painting, flooring, full kitchen and bathroom replacements, roof works and/or asbestos removal.
e) Not Returning Public Housing properties are not economical or capable to return to service. A small number may be sold where redevelopment is not feasible, for the majority the properties are demolished with the land held for future social housing.
f) Eight hours.
g) Approximately 3.7%
b) Data for the percentage of first-offer turn-downs of public housing applications and reasonings are not captured in a reportable data table. Providing this data would require a manual review of individual case files and is not considered a reasonable use of government resources. Common reasons for applicants turning down a property are due to changing personal circumstances which can include changes to the number of householders, changes to preferred locations or applicants securing other accommodation.
c) As at 31 May 2025, the average relet time for public housing was 21 weeks. This includes homes that required hundreds of thousands of dollars in works to return the property to use. The vast majority of properties were returned in 14 days.
d) Refurbishment costs will vary depending on the location and the scope of works required. Refurbishments often require multiple trades and substantial works to the property and some examples include painting, flooring, full kitchen and bathroom replacements, roof works and/or asbestos removal.
e) Not Returning Public Housing properties are not economical or capable to return to service. A small number may be sold where redevelopment is not feasible, for the majority the properties are demolished with the land held for future social housing.
f) Eight hours.
g) Approximately 3.7%
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