❓ Dr. Pettitt asks about the number, occupancy, and refurbishment status of public and social housing in WA. The Minister provides figures and explains fluctuations in occupancy, with additional data incorporated into Hansard.
AnsweredQoN 1000Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC AND SOCIAL
HOUSING
1000. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I refer to public and social housing
in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister provide the total number of social houses and public houses in Western
Australia, as of the nearest available date?
(2) How many are occupied?
(3) How many houses referred to in
(1) are currently vacant?
(4) How many houses in (1) are under
refurbishment, and are they included in the numbers in (3)?
HOUSING
1000. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I refer to public and social housing
in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister provide the total number of social houses and public houses in Western
Australia, as of the nearest available date?
(2) How many are occupied?
(3) How many houses referred to in
(1) are currently vacant?
(4) How many houses in (1) are under
refurbishment, and are they included in the numbers in (3)?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Housing.
(1) As at 31 August
2024, there are 7 431 community housing properties and as at 31 July 2024,
there are 37 040 public housing properties.
(2)–(3) Occupancy
rate data represents 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 that may require
refurbishment to be brought up to clean, safe and working order. Levels of
occupancy will fluctuate between regions for a range of reasons, including
areas where there are higher levels of ageing stock or when stock is located in
areas of low demand. Community housing organisations manage the property and
tenancy and are not required to provide occupancy data to Communities or advise
when a property is under maintenance or refurbishment.
The rest of the
answer is in tabular form and I seek leave to have it incorporated into Hansard .
[Leave granted for the following
material to be incorporated.]
Category
Number
of Properties
Occupied
35,261������������
�
Returning
Voids*
1,494
Not-Returning
Voids
285
*Vacant
housing stock is categorised between 'returning' and 'not-returning'.
Returning properties will undergo maintenance on any necessary repairs to be
made available and then relet to an applicant on the wait list. Not-returning
properties represent dwellings that have been earmarked for a purpose other
than reletting to an applicant on the wait list, such as where the property is
being considered for demolition or redevelopment.
(4) The Cook
government has refurbished more than 1 840 dwellings as part of its record $3.2
billion investment into social housing.
Properties being refurbished are reflected in the voids category, representing 276 as at 31 July 2024.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Housing.
(1) As at 31 August
2024, there are 7 431 community housing properties and as at 31 July 2024,
there are 37 040 public housing properties.
(2)–(3) Occupancy
rate data represents 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 that may require
refurbishment to be brought up to clean, safe and working order. Levels of
occupancy will fluctuate between regions for a range of reasons, including
areas where there are higher levels of ageing stock or when stock is located in
areas of low demand. Community housing organisations manage the property and
tenancy and are not required to provide occupancy data to Communities or advise
when a property is under maintenance or refurbishment.
The rest of the
answer is in tabular form and I seek leave to have it incorporated into Hansard .
[Leave granted for the following
material to be incorporated.]
Category
Number
of Properties
Occupied
35,261������������
�
Returning
Voids*
1,494
Not-Returning
Voids
285
*Vacant
housing stock is categorised between 'returning' and 'not-returning'.
Returning properties will undergo maintenance on any necessary repairs to be
made available and then relet to an applicant on the wait list. Not-returning
properties represent dwellings that have been earmarked for a purpose other
than reletting to an applicant on the wait list, such as where the property is
being considered for demolition or redevelopment.
(4) The Cook
government has refurbished more than 1 840 dwellings as part of its record $3.2
billion investment into social housing.
Properties being refurbished are reflected in the voids category, representing 276 as at 31 July 2024.
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