First tenancy evaluations in 5 years uncover owners and high-income earners in social housing

• The Crisafulli Government is delivering equity as public housing tenants have hire decreased after years of paying an excessive amount of underneath Labor.
• Queenslanders have now seen 10 months of delivering underneath the Crisafulli Government, after 10 years of decline underneath Labor. 
• More than 2,000 evaluations have been initiated since 1 July, with 76 households recognized as high-income and 9 public housing tenants recognized as proudly owning property.
• Tenants in a position to dwell in taxpayer funded housing regardless of being above eligibility earnings threshold, whereas tens of 1000’s of susceptible Queenslanders have been caught on Labor’s social housing waitlist.

The Crisafulli Government’s return of tenancy and hire evaluations is already exposing how damaged Labor’s social housing system was – and delivering fairer outcomes for probably the most susceptible Queenslanders. 

Under Labor, 45 per cent of Queensland’s public housing tenants had not had their hire or ongoing eligibility assessed in additional than 5 years.  

The set-and-forget strategy failed tenants at each ends – permitting some to underpay or stay in houses they might not qualify for, whereas others have been overpaying way more hire than they need to have. 

After 10 months, the Crisafulli Government has capped hire will increase at $15 per week – decreases are usually not – with many households already seeing reductions of round $70 per week to make sure they’re paying 25 per cent of their earnings in hire. 

Some tenants have been in a position to dwell in taxpayer-funded housing regardless of incomes effectively above the continuing eligibility earnings threshold — all whereas 1000’s of susceptible Queenslanders stay caught on Labor’s social housing waitlist. 

The Crisafulli Government’s 2025-26 Budget is delivering a report $5.6 billion to ship social and neighborhood housing over the subsequent 4 years to make sure extra Queenslanders have a spot to name dwelling. 

The small variety of tenants not eligible for public housing will likely be supported to transition to the non-public market with entry to bond loans, rental grants and different help merchandise. 

One instance features a couple in Townsville with a joint earnings of greater than $168,000 paying simply $187 per week in hire. 

Since 1 July greater than 2,000 tenancy evaluations, 4 per cent of the overall anticipated, have been initiated state-wide with early outcomes displaying: 

• 76 tenancies have been initially recognized as exceeding the continuing eligibility restrict of $80,000.
• 9 tenancies recognized as proudly owning property regardless of holding a social tenancy.
• 13 households have been suggested they’re not eligible for ongoing public housing and positioned on market hire after failing to offer earnings info.
• 1 in 4 tenancies have had their hire decreased following a hire assessment

Under the Crisafulli Government’s strengthened tenancy administration strategy launched on 1 July 2025: 

• Annual ongoing eligibility checks will verify if tenants nonetheless meet lengthy standing earnings and asset thresholds.
• Market hire will likely be charged to tenants who don’t present info to confirm their earnings or who’re confirmed to be ineligible for ongoing public housing help whereas they’re supported to transition to different housing choices.
• Rent in social housing will proceed to be calculated as being 25 per cent of a family’s assessable earnings.
• If any eligible tenant is discovered to have been paying lower than 25 per cent of their family’s assessable earnings, any improve in hire will likely be capped at a most of $15 per week, per 12 months.
• Households are given 28 days to offer earnings and family info for the division to evaluate the place required.

The return of tenancy and hire evaluations is a part of the Crisafulli Government’s fairer administration of Queensland’s housing system whereas report numbers of social and neighborhood houses are constructed via a $5.6 billion funding over this four-year interval alone. 

Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O’Connor stated the early information confirmed why Labor’s resolution to desert evaluations was a significant injustice. 

“We’ve already uncovered homeowners and dozens of high-income households living in taxpayer-funded housing while thousands of families languished on Labor’s record social housing waitlist,” Mr O’Connor stated. 

“While the social housing waitlist grew 81 per cent over their decade of decline, they gave up on managing the social housing system. 

“Because Labor turned a blind eye, we have discovered nearly 1 in 4 tenants paying an excessive amount of, and their hire has now been decreased instantly. 

“This is precisely why we introduced evaluations again – to verify Queenslanders in social housing are handled pretty, and that taxpayer-funded houses are going to those that want them most. 

“These are lengthy overdue modifications to repair the system we inherited by restoring equity and fairness.” 

MEDIA CONTACT: Caet Young 0427 939 326