Community Housing Allocations Policy (CHAP)

1 Page 1 of 19 Further information please contact: Email: of the Department of Housing Western Australia 2009. Reproduction of this work in whole or part within the Department and on condition that it is not offered for sale is permitted by the Department of Housing WA. Policy Update Schedule Date Key Reason Authorised by Date Policy prepared August 2009 Introduction of CHAMS system Director Public Housing August 2009 Annual Review August 2010 Revise allocation Rule; add Outcomes & A/ Director HSR Branch 8 Sept 2010 Definitions Community Housing Allocations Policy (CHAP) Policy Number CH/2007/32194-02 Revised October 2010 To be read in conjunction with the Community Housing Income and Asset Limits Policy Page 2 of 19 DOCUMENT CONTROL.

2 4 SECTION 1: DEFINITION OF TERMS .. 5 2. GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS .. 6 SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION .. 7 3. Policy OVERVIEW .. 7 Outcomes .. 7 Policy Objectives .. 7 Scope of Policy .. 8 SECTION 3: Policy PROVISIONS .. 9 4. Community Housing Allocations MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CHAMS) .. 9 5. JOINT WAIT LIST (JWL) .. 9 JWL Eligibility upon Application .. 9 Access to the JWL .. 9 Management Responsibilities of the JWL .. 9 6. IDENTIFICATION OF APPLICANTS FOR ASSESSMENT .. 9 7. APPLICANT allocation RULE .. 10 8. allocation PROCESS .. 10 9. ALLOCATING AN APPLICATION .. 11 Timeframe for General Assessment and allocation .. 11 10. APPLICATION ASSESSMENT PROCESS .. 11 Sensitive and Sustainable Allocations .. 11 Basic Housing Requirements .. 11 Location Requirements.

3 12 Future Need .. 12 Discretionary Allocations .. 12 Outside Listing Date .. 12 Zone Preference .. 12 Housing Entitlement .. 12 Apartment or Unit Complex Allocations .. 12 11. MOBILITY Housing Allocations .. 12 Designated Use of Mobility Housing Properties .. 13 Additional Amenity or Modification .. 13 allocation Process for Mobility Housing Properties .. 13 12. INCOME & ASSET ELIGIBILITY .. 13 Eligibility upon 13 Applicant is Income 14 Department Responsibility .. 14 13. OFFER OF 14 Acceptance of Offer of Housing .. 14 Decline an Offer of Housing .. 14 Valid Declines .. 14 Invalid Declines .. 15 Withdrawal of an Offer of Housing .. 15 14. TRANSFER APPLICATIONS .. 15 15. GENERAL PROVISIONS .. 15 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 3 of 19 Bond Assistance Loan.

4 15 Residential Tenancy Agreements .. 15 Rental Charges .. 15 Tenant Contact .. 15 16. WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICANTS FROM THE JWL .. 16 17. APPEALS .. 16 18. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (UNTIL AUTOMATED REPORT IS IN PLACE) .. 16 19. EVALUATION OF KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS .. 16 Wait List Reduction .. 16 Property Transfer .. 16 SECTION 4: BUSINESS RULES .. 17 APPENDIX A: CONSENT TO DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION [REGIONAL OFFICE USE] .. 17 APPENDIX B: VACANT PROPERTY REPORT [TO BE USED BY PROVIDERS] .. 17 Page 4 of 19 Document Control Document Information Information Document Id Document Owner Housing System Reform, Access & Demand Team Issue Date 27 September 2010 File Name CHAP_Version 2010 Role Name Department Date Principal Policy Officer GM Raymond Housing System Reform, Access & Demand Team 27 September 2010 Version Issue Date Changes Author August 2009 Policy authorised and released Dalena Howard August 2010 Revised Policy authorised and released GM Raymond David Baird October 2010 Slight amendment David Baird 27 October 2010 Slight amendment: up to 30% GM Raymond Job Title Name Signature Date Director, Housing System Reform Greg Cash 27 October 2010 Page 5 of 19 In this document.

5 Accommodation means Housing provided without a tenancy agreement, such as board and lodging, crisis accommodation, emergency Housing , refuges and certain forms of transitional Housing . Residents in these properties are not tenants and are not included in the Community Housing Agreement Performance Agreement. Affordable Housing means Housing to be leased to households earning no more than eligibility limits for entry into the National Rental Affordability Scheme. Rent is to be set at less than 75% of the market rent or otherwise in accordance with the relevant policies. Allocations means the offer and acceptance of a premise by an Eligible Person from the Housing Authority s Joint Wait List.

6 Bond Assistance Loan (BAL) means the scheme operated by the Department of Housing for tenants to receive a loan to cover the cost of their rental property bond. Business Days means a day, not being a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, which banks in Western Australia are open for general banking business. Caretaker means the Housing Authority s Tenancy Management Database. Community Housing means Social Housing and/or Affordable Housing owned or otherwise under the legal control of a Community Housing Organisation. Community Housing Agreement (CHA) means a partnership between the Housing Authority and a Community Housing Organisation that aims to establish the terms by which the Community Housing Organisation must discharge its functions and deliver robust and consistent standards for service.

7 Community Housing Organisation means any not-for-profit organisation incorporated under the Law of the Commonwealth of Australia or the State of Western Australia, or a Local Government, whose primary objective is to provide Social Housing or Affordable Housing to Eligible Persons on the Joint Wait List and is registered with the Housing Authority for that purpose. Community Housing Asset Management System (CHAMS) means the purpose built Joint Wait List web interface system used by Community Housing Organisations to allocate tenants. Eligible Persons means persons who meet the Housing Authority s eligibility criteria for Affordable Housing or Social Housing (as applicable) as set out in the relevant Policy . Growth means additional premises funded and developed or purchased by the Community Housing Organisation.

8 Housing Authority means the Housing Authority as defined in the Housing Act 1980 (WA) as amended (also known as the Department of Housing ). Joint Wait List (JWL) means the list of Eligible Persons maintained by the Housing Authority on behalf of clients and selected Community Housing Organisations to form a common integrated Housing Wait List for Western Australia. Mobility Housing means Housing for people with impaired mobility and where the property is specifically built, fully converted, modified or adapted for people who have difficulty in walking or use a wheelchair. Month means a calendar month. Occupation/Reoccupation means the date that a new tenancy agreement is signed and rent charges begin. SECTION 1: DEFINITION OF TERMS Page 6 of 19 Occupational Therapy Service (OTS) means the services provided by the Department of Housing to clients with mobility Housing requirements.

9 Priority Applicants means those who are on the Joint Wait List and have demonstrated an urgent need for Housing in accordance with the relevant Policies. Provider means a registered Community Housing organisation or Local Authority that manages Land and Premises as defined under a Service Level Agreement or any other agreement entered into with the Housing Authority. Community Housing Provider or Community Housing Organisation has the same meaning. Public Housing means a form of Housing tenure in which the property is owned by the Housing Authority, managed by the Housing Authority and provided at nominal rent to people in need. Regional Office means an office of the Housing Authority. Social Housing means Government subsidised rental Housing for people with low to moderate incomes provided by a public Housing body or a not-for-profit organisation such as a Community Housing Organisation.

10 Rent is set between 25-30% of household income. Special Needs Housing means Housing provided with a tenancy agreement for specific clients supported by the Mental Health Commission or the Disability Services Commission ( Community Disability Housing Program, Independent Living Program). Residents in these properties are tenants and are included in the Community Housing Agreement Performance Agreement. Tenancy means the right of occupancy established under a residential tenancy agreement. Turnaround Time means the time taken, measured in the number of working days, from the vacation of a property to reoccupation. Vacancy means a premise that is unoccupied and/or is undergoing standard maintenance ( excluding major maintenance) to restore the property to a lettable condition.