❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding public housing evictions, broken down by eviction type, Indigenous status, and households with children. The response provides data and outlines support services offered to tenants at risk of eviction.
AnsweredQoN 1050Legislative Council
Asked
18 October 2022
Member
Portfolio
Housing; Lands; Homelessness; Local Government
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Please provide the following details for the years 2011-2021 or if only available from
2018: (a) the
number of evictions from public housing tenancies, broken down by: (i) vacant possession
after termination notice; (ii) vacant
possession after Court order; and (iii) vacant
possession after Bailiff attends to enforce order; (b) the
number of households evicted with Aboriginal tenants (or household members), as
recorded by the Housing Authority; (c) the
number of households evicted where there are children in the household; and (d) the
total number of the children listed as household members where the household
has been evicted? (2) Does
the Housing Authority record the reason for termination of a tenancy: (a) what
categories does the Housing Authority use: (i) please disclose the number of tenancies terminated (resulting in eviction) for each basis of termination, for the years 2011-2021 or if only available from 2018; and (ii) how are cases with multiple kinds of breach recorded and reflected in this data; and (b) do the
categories cover these issues: rent arrears, property standards, disruptive behaviour,
serious damage, injuries to neighbours or Housing Authority staff?
2018: (a) the
number of evictions from public housing tenancies, broken down by: (i) vacant possession
after termination notice; (ii) vacant
possession after Court order; and (iii) vacant
possession after Bailiff attends to enforce order; (b) the
number of households evicted with Aboriginal tenants (or household members), as
recorded by the Housing Authority; (c) the
number of households evicted where there are children in the household; and (d) the
total number of the children listed as household members where the household
has been evicted? (2) Does
the Housing Authority record the reason for termination of a tenancy: (a) what
categories does the Housing Authority use: (i) please disclose the number of tenancies terminated (resulting in eviction) for each basis of termination, for the years 2011-2021 or if only available from 2018; and (ii) how are cases with multiple kinds of breach recorded and reflected in this data; and (b) do the
categories cover these issues: rent arrears, property standards, disruptive behaviour,
serious damage, injuries to neighbours or Housing Authority staff?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 November 2022
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Housing; Lands; Homelessness; Local Government
Response time
12 days
(1)(a)
Eviction is a last resort for the Department of Communities. Communities works with tenants to ensure they are given every opportunity to rectify the issues impacting on their tenancy. This includes making appropriate referrals to supports and programs such as Thrive, which provides support to public housing clients.
Where a tenant is at risk of eviction, Communities will increase their contact with the client and link them with relevant support services to help address the issues impacting their tenancy and, in most cases, people remedy the issues impacting their tenancy.
Where tenants are experiencing arrears, Communities supports tenants through repayment arrangements and the Debt Discount Scheme, which in some cases requires tenants to pay back only 50% of their debt.
‘Vacates following’ occurs where an individual relinquishes the property after a termination notice or court order. Termination notices and court orders often do not lead to eviction and Communities will continue to work with tenants to rectify issues impacting their tenancy, even following eviction orders, tenants have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities.
1(a)(i)
Tenants voluntarily vacating following termination notices are not evictions. When given a termination notice, tenants still have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Voluntarily Vacates following Termination Notice
2013-14
70
2014-15
36
2015-16
43
2016-17
225
2017-18
339
2018-19
242
2019-20
171
2020-21
43
2021-22
95
1(a)(ii)
Tenants voluntarily vacating following court orders are not evictions. When given a court order, tenants still have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Voluntarily Vacates following Court Order
2013-14
134
2014-15
120
2015-16
137
2016-17
162
2017-18
102
2018-19
279
2019-20
207
2020-21
42
2021-22
118
1(a)(iii)
Bailiff evictions follow where tenants repeatedly and egregiously fail to rectify their behaviour or engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Bailiff Eviction
2013-14
252
2014-15
233
2015-16
315
2016-17
293
2017-18
159
2018-19
167
2019-20
93
2020-21
7
2021-22
43
1(b)
To support tenants who have disclosed ATSI status, Communities provides culturally appropriate supports as well as engaging service providers to help deliver sustainable, longer term support networks.
It is important to note that when applying, the ATSI field is not a mandatory option for tenants to indicate as to whether they identify as ATSI. Applicants for public housing in WA are not required to identify their ethnicity when applying for housing assistance.
Please refer to table below, noting that this data includes voluntary vacations after termination notices, court orders or where tenants subject to a bailiff eviction have sought to work with Communities and not been evicted. Where termination notices or court orders are given, tenants still have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Historically, reportable data before system changes in 2017-18 were recorded at a tenancy and application level, if at all, with a low confidence level. Subsequently, comparative data prior to June 2018 is not available.
Financial Year
Tenancies where at least one householder has identified as ATSI
2018-19
384
2019-20
246
2020-21
53
2021-22
129
1(c-d)
Where children are involved, Communities provides additional supports to help sustain the tenancy. Communities also has processes which ensure that Child Protection and Family Support officers are notified when termination or eviction proceedings are initiated for households that include children, to provide child protection officers the opportunity to engage the family with appropriate support or intervention. This often results in referrals and engagement of tenants in collaborative support programs such as Thrive, or alternative supported accommodation options. Clients also remain eligible to reapply for further housing assistance.
It should be noted that this data may include children who are listed on the tenancy agreement but are not be residing at the property.
Financial Year
Total No. of Tenancies with Children
Total No. of Children
2016-17
171
388
2017-18
80
176
2018-19
85
199
2019-20
42
81
2020-21
4
6
2021-22
9
12
(2) (a-b) The Department of Communities categorises tenancies terminated by;
· Illegal Use of Premises
· Disruptive Behaviour
· Arrears where they are excessive no repayment arrangement agreed (Arrears)
· Other
Tenants voluntarily vacating following termination notices are not evictions. When given a termination notice, tenants still have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Category
Voluntarily Vacates following Termination Notice
2013-14
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
16
Arrears
28
Other
26
Total
70
2014-15
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
5
Arrears
21
Other
10
Total
36
2015-16
Illegal Use of Premises
1
Disruptive Behaviour
12
Arrears
13
Other
17
Total
43
2016-17
Illegal Use of Premises
0
Disruptive Behaviour
3
Arrears
163
Other
59
Total
225
2017-18
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
11
Arrears
207
Other
121
Total
339
2018-19
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
6
Arrears
125
Other
111
Total
242
2019-20
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
11
Arrears
71
Other
89
Total
171
2020-21
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
6
Arrears
11
Other
26
Total
43
2021-22
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
2
Arrears
50
Other
43
Total
95
Tenants voluntarily vacating following court orders are not evictions. When given a court order, tenants still have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Category
Voluntarily Vacates following Court Order
2013-14
Illegal Use of Premises
9
Disruptive Behaviour
22
Arrears
55
Other
48
Total
134
2014-15
Illegal Use of Premises
3
Disruptive Behaviour
20
Arrears
52
Other
45
Total
120
2015-16
Illegal Use of Premises
3
Disruptive Behaviour
25
Arrears
65
Other
44
Total
137
2016-17
Illegal Use of Premises
6
Disruptive Behaviour
16
Arrears
75
Other
65
Total
162
2017-18
Illegal Use of Premises
5
Disruptive Behaviour
10
Arrears
52
Other
35
Total
102
2018-19
Illegal Use of Premises
7
Disruptive Behaviour
43
Arrears
120
Other
109
Total
279
2019-20
Illegal Use of Premises
9
Disruptive Behaviour
31
Arrears
85
Other
82
Total
207
2020-21
Illegal Use of Premises
3
Disruptive Behaviour
16
Arrears
9
Other
14
Total
42
2021-22
Illegal Use of Premises
5
Disruptive Behaviour
29
Arrears
35
Other
49
Total
118
Bailiff evictions follow where tenants repeatedly and egregiously fail to rectify their behaviour or engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Category
Bailiff Eviction
2013-14
Illegal Use of Premises
4
Disruptive Behaviour
43
Arrears
148
Other
57
Total
252
2014-15
Illegal Use of Premises
1
Disruptive Behaviour
31
Arrears
111
Other
90
Total
233
2015-16
Illegal Use of Premises
11
Disruptive Behaviour
42
Arrears
165
Other
97
Total
315
2016-17
Illegal Use of Premises
12
Disruptive Behaviour
36
Arrears
142
Other
103
Total
293
2017-18
Illegal Use of Premises
3
Disruptive Behaviour
16
Arrears
75
Other
65
Total
159
2018-19
Illegal Use of Premises
3
Disruptive Behaviour
18
Arrears
76
Other
70
Total
167
2019-20
Illegal Use of Premises
6
Disruptive Behaviour
12
Arrears
37
Other
38
Total
93
2020-21
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
3
Arrears
2
Other
2
Total
7
2021-22
Illegal Use of Premises
4
Disruptive Behaviour
9
Arrears
11
Other
19
Total
43
· Tenancies terminated with multiple action including Disruptive Behaviour are reported under the 'Disruptive Behaviour' category, and multiple action excluding Disruptive Behaviour are reported under the 'Arrears' category.
· Note: in 2019 and 2020 vacates and/or bailiff eviction figures were updated due to data processing errors. Therefore, some historical figures released prior to these updates will differ.
Eviction is a last resort for the Department of Communities. Communities works with tenants to ensure they are given every opportunity to rectify the issues impacting on their tenancy. This includes making appropriate referrals to supports and programs such as Thrive, which provides support to public housing clients.
Where a tenant is at risk of eviction, Communities will increase their contact with the client and link them with relevant support services to help address the issues impacting their tenancy and, in most cases, people remedy the issues impacting their tenancy.
Where tenants are experiencing arrears, Communities supports tenants through repayment arrangements and the Debt Discount Scheme, which in some cases requires tenants to pay back only 50% of their debt.
‘Vacates following’ occurs where an individual relinquishes the property after a termination notice or court order. Termination notices and court orders often do not lead to eviction and Communities will continue to work with tenants to rectify issues impacting their tenancy, even following eviction orders, tenants have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities.
1(a)(i)
Tenants voluntarily vacating following termination notices are not evictions. When given a termination notice, tenants still have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Voluntarily Vacates following Termination Notice
2013-14
70
2014-15
36
2015-16
43
2016-17
225
2017-18
339
2018-19
242
2019-20
171
2020-21
43
2021-22
95
1(a)(ii)
Tenants voluntarily vacating following court orders are not evictions. When given a court order, tenants still have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Voluntarily Vacates following Court Order
2013-14
134
2014-15
120
2015-16
137
2016-17
162
2017-18
102
2018-19
279
2019-20
207
2020-21
42
2021-22
118
1(a)(iii)
Bailiff evictions follow where tenants repeatedly and egregiously fail to rectify their behaviour or engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Bailiff Eviction
2013-14
252
2014-15
233
2015-16
315
2016-17
293
2017-18
159
2018-19
167
2019-20
93
2020-21
7
2021-22
43
1(b)
To support tenants who have disclosed ATSI status, Communities provides culturally appropriate supports as well as engaging service providers to help deliver sustainable, longer term support networks.
It is important to note that when applying, the ATSI field is not a mandatory option for tenants to indicate as to whether they identify as ATSI. Applicants for public housing in WA are not required to identify their ethnicity when applying for housing assistance.
Please refer to table below, noting that this data includes voluntary vacations after termination notices, court orders or where tenants subject to a bailiff eviction have sought to work with Communities and not been evicted. Where termination notices or court orders are given, tenants still have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Historically, reportable data before system changes in 2017-18 were recorded at a tenancy and application level, if at all, with a low confidence level. Subsequently, comparative data prior to June 2018 is not available.
Financial Year
Tenancies where at least one householder has identified as ATSI
2018-19
384
2019-20
246
2020-21
53
2021-22
129
1(c-d)
Where children are involved, Communities provides additional supports to help sustain the tenancy. Communities also has processes which ensure that Child Protection and Family Support officers are notified when termination or eviction proceedings are initiated for households that include children, to provide child protection officers the opportunity to engage the family with appropriate support or intervention. This often results in referrals and engagement of tenants in collaborative support programs such as Thrive, or alternative supported accommodation options. Clients also remain eligible to reapply for further housing assistance.
It should be noted that this data may include children who are listed on the tenancy agreement but are not be residing at the property.
Financial Year
Total No. of Tenancies with Children
Total No. of Children
2016-17
171
388
2017-18
80
176
2018-19
85
199
2019-20
42
81
2020-21
4
6
2021-22
9
12
(2) (a-b) The Department of Communities categorises tenancies terminated by;
· Illegal Use of Premises
· Disruptive Behaviour
· Arrears where they are excessive no repayment arrangement agreed (Arrears)
· Other
Tenants voluntarily vacating following termination notices are not evictions. When given a termination notice, tenants still have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Category
Voluntarily Vacates following Termination Notice
2013-14
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
16
Arrears
28
Other
26
Total
70
2014-15
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
5
Arrears
21
Other
10
Total
36
2015-16
Illegal Use of Premises
1
Disruptive Behaviour
12
Arrears
13
Other
17
Total
43
2016-17
Illegal Use of Premises
0
Disruptive Behaviour
3
Arrears
163
Other
59
Total
225
2017-18
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
11
Arrears
207
Other
121
Total
339
2018-19
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
6
Arrears
125
Other
111
Total
242
2019-20
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
11
Arrears
71
Other
89
Total
171
2020-21
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
6
Arrears
11
Other
26
Total
43
2021-22
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
2
Arrears
50
Other
43
Total
95
Tenants voluntarily vacating following court orders are not evictions. When given a court order, tenants still have the opportunity to remediate their tenancy and engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Category
Voluntarily Vacates following Court Order
2013-14
Illegal Use of Premises
9
Disruptive Behaviour
22
Arrears
55
Other
48
Total
134
2014-15
Illegal Use of Premises
3
Disruptive Behaviour
20
Arrears
52
Other
45
Total
120
2015-16
Illegal Use of Premises
3
Disruptive Behaviour
25
Arrears
65
Other
44
Total
137
2016-17
Illegal Use of Premises
6
Disruptive Behaviour
16
Arrears
75
Other
65
Total
162
2017-18
Illegal Use of Premises
5
Disruptive Behaviour
10
Arrears
52
Other
35
Total
102
2018-19
Illegal Use of Premises
7
Disruptive Behaviour
43
Arrears
120
Other
109
Total
279
2019-20
Illegal Use of Premises
9
Disruptive Behaviour
31
Arrears
85
Other
82
Total
207
2020-21
Illegal Use of Premises
3
Disruptive Behaviour
16
Arrears
9
Other
14
Total
42
2021-22
Illegal Use of Premises
5
Disruptive Behaviour
29
Arrears
35
Other
49
Total
118
Bailiff evictions follow where tenants repeatedly and egregiously fail to rectify their behaviour or engage with Communities to sustain their tenancies.
Financial Year
Category
Bailiff Eviction
2013-14
Illegal Use of Premises
4
Disruptive Behaviour
43
Arrears
148
Other
57
Total
252
2014-15
Illegal Use of Premises
1
Disruptive Behaviour
31
Arrears
111
Other
90
Total
233
2015-16
Illegal Use of Premises
11
Disruptive Behaviour
42
Arrears
165
Other
97
Total
315
2016-17
Illegal Use of Premises
12
Disruptive Behaviour
36
Arrears
142
Other
103
Total
293
2017-18
Illegal Use of Premises
3
Disruptive Behaviour
16
Arrears
75
Other
65
Total
159
2018-19
Illegal Use of Premises
3
Disruptive Behaviour
18
Arrears
76
Other
70
Total
167
2019-20
Illegal Use of Premises
6
Disruptive Behaviour
12
Arrears
37
Other
38
Total
93
2020-21
Illegal Use of Premises
-
Disruptive Behaviour
3
Arrears
2
Other
2
Total
7
2021-22
Illegal Use of Premises
4
Disruptive Behaviour
9
Arrears
11
Other
19
Total
43
· Tenancies terminated with multiple action including Disruptive Behaviour are reported under the 'Disruptive Behaviour' category, and multiple action excluding Disruptive Behaviour are reported under the 'Arrears' category.
· Note: in 2019 and 2020 vacates and/or bailiff eviction figures were updated due to data processing errors. Therefore, some historical figures released prior to these updates will differ.
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