Call to review battlers’ rents

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
VICTORIAN Public Tenants Association has gone into bat for Geelong battlers facing rent hikes totalling $70 in 12 months.
Coordinator Jackie Dacey said the association had asked Victoria’s Office of Housing to review its market rent calculations.
The Independent reported last week that Norlane battlers were struggling with two successive increases of $35.
Tenant Mick said the rise was a blow to him and other public housing tenants already facing difficulties “making ends meet”.
Ms Dacey said public housing tenants often faced escalations in rents if the housing market rose.
“We believe those rises are excessive in certain circumstances,” Ms Dacey said.
“There may be people able to afford it but others are struggling and $35 makes it hard to survive if there’s no increase in income.”
Ms Dacey said introduction of a sliding scale could help, which would set rents depending on tenants’ ability to pay.
“We know the Office of Housing is considering it, we don’t know what their decision is yet, but this is a problem issue and needs to be looked at.”
Ms Dacey said the rising property market was at the basis of the housing affordability crisis.
“It’s a huge problem because negative gearing pushes rent prices up and the first home buyers grant does as well
“People will struggle to get rental accommodation if they are on low to middle incomes.
State Government last week announced 125 new public and social housing properties for the Barwon south-west region by June, 2012.
The announcement said another 190 properties would receive upgrades.
Ms Dacey said the new homes and upgrades were part of an earlier State Government announcement of another 1600 public housing units.
“But that’s nothing compared to the need,” she said.