into the property by providing some peace of mind
to the landlord. For those who are unable to
obtain bond assistance, deposit bonds through an
insurance company guarantee were reported to be
an alternative means of raising amounts needed.
The bond is then paid off by the tenant but the
insurance company provides the upfront
guarantee. However, the amount of the bond to
be paid back would be higher than the upfront
bond due to additional interest.
There was critical concern for single people who
are unable to be adequately assisted in the private
rental market and who are most vulnerable to the
experience of homelessness. The inability of
tenancy laws to provide adequate security of
tenure, particularly for families, remains an
ongoing issue in need of reform. Services on the
ground have a key advocacy role in ensuring that
the specific needs of low income households,
particularly those who are ‘falling through the
gaps’, continue to inform broader program and
policy development. Establishment and
maintenance of ongoing housing networks
provides a key forum for advancing the concerns
emerging in the private rental sector at the local
level.
A further incentive based program suggested that
may help to facilitate greater accessibility was the
establishment of a private rental maintenance
program. In the program the tenant, or a program
on behalf of the tenant would offer to paint the
house or fix up the garden in exchange for rent.
This could be a joint program across a number of
agencies, which could also provide the opportunity
for employment based work experience. Being
able to offer the landlord something in terms of
tangible maintenance can improve the property
for the tenant and also provide some leverage in
getting in the door. This was reported to provide a
selling point beyond a reference. It also could
provide direct employment experience for those
looking for work if established as a form of social
enterprise.
Single people are now effectively
locked out of the private rental
market. They cannot afford to pay 55%
rent and the real estate agent and the
landlord look at the income and
determine that it is too much of a risk.
The doors are locked for this group
[External stakeholder].
Recommendation 7: Explore the viability of
subsidising rental insurance premiums for
landlords as a last resort practice for tenants
that do not have a rental history or have a
poor rental history with several unsuccessful
applications.
Recommendation 8: Continue to be
proactive in raising the needs of low income
households through ongoing coordination
and engagement in local and regional forums
for affordable housing and contributing to
policy reviews based on the lessons learned
from the Housing Brokerage and Support
Project.
7.7
7.8
Housing affordability
Both internal and external stakeholders discussed
the structural affordability and security concerns
that extend beyond the capacity of the program to
address but were considered important to note as
part of a broader response in the provision of
adequate housing for all. The magnitude of the
housing affordability problem in the Whittlesea
and surrounding areas extends beyond the
capacity of any one program to address. The
supply of affordable housing remains the subject
3
of a Senate Inquiry and needs to be fully
resourced through national strategic effort.
Assistance to sustain tenancies
The capacity and primary focus of the project has
been to facilitate rental access. However, the
extent to which the brokerage program moves
beyond access to a more proactive role in
sustaining [