GROH Alternative Accommodation Policy - Department of Housing

GOVERNMENT REGIONAL OFFICERS’ HOUSING
Alternative Accommodation Policy
November 2009

Policy Number
© of the Department of Housing of Western Australia 2000.
Reproduction of this work in whole or part within the Department and
on condition that it not be offered for sale, is permitted by the
Department of Housing of Western Australia.
Further information please contact:
Title : Government Regional Officers’ Housing
Coordinator Policy and Projects
Address : Department of Housing
99 Plain Street
EAST PERTH WA 6004
Telephone 08 9286 6000
Facsimile 08 9286 6025
Email Danielle.Faulkner@housing.wa.gov.au
Web Site www.groh.wa.gov.au
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
1.1 OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
1.2 PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 SCOPE ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
1.4 RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.5 DOCUMENT CONTROL ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.6 DOCUMENT REVIEW ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.7 FULL DOCUMENT HISTORY .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS (GLOSSARY) .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
2. ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION - EMERGENCY ..................................................................................................................... 6
3. EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE CRITERIA ........................................................................................................................................ 7
4. ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION – ROUTINE (UPGRADES & REFURBISHMENT) .......................................................... 8
5. REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATION FROM DEPARTMENTS - UNPLANNED .......................................................................... 9
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 OVERVIEW
This policy provides information in relation to the requirements for alternative accommodation for occupants in the event that the property
that they are residing in becomes uninhabitable because of structural damage, health and safety hazards or as a result of work being
undertaken on the property for refurbishment.
1.2 PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT
This document is written with the aim of providing clear policies and procedures for GROH staff and client agencies to ensure effective
management and consistent implementation of the Alternative Accommodation Policy.
1.3 SCOPE
This document is written for use by client agencies, GROH and DHW staff.
1.4 RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND REFERENCES
♦ Government Employees’ Housing Act 1964
♦ Residential Tenancies Act 1987
♦ Customer Service Charter
♦ GROH Emergency and Priority Maintenance Policy
1.5 DOCUMENT CONTROL
This document is published on the GROH Internet site at www.groh.wa.gov.au - GROH Policies
Responsibility for the document lies with the Director, Government Regional Officers’ Housing.
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1.6 DOCUMENT REVIEW
This document may be amended from time to time (see 1.7 Document History).
1.7 FULL DOCUMENT HISTORY
ISSUE
DATE REASON POLICY AUTHOR OFFICERS TITLE DATE LOADED ON
Web Site
1 January 2006 Draft Developed Lisbet Schäfers Policy and Projects Officer
2 June 2008 1 st Edition Emily Tyrrell-Clark Policy and Research
Officer
3 November
2009
Policy amended Emily Robinson Policy and Research
Officer
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS (Glossary)
TERM / ACRONYM MEANING
Client Agency A department proclaimed under the Government Employees’ Housing Act 1964, as a client agency.
GROH Government Regional Officers’ Housing
RTA Residential Tenancies Act 1987
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2. ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION - EMERGENCY
POLICY : PRACTICES / PROCEDURES
• This Policy must be read in conjunction with the GROH
Emergency Maintenance Policy.
• GROH will approve the provision of temporary alternative
accommodation for occupants of GROH owned or leased
properties in cases where emergency maintenance, as specified
in the Emergency Maintenance Policy:
(a) cannot be carried out within a reasonable time-frame
and
(b) would cause a severe hazard or health risk to the
occupants.
2.1 Refer to the Emergency and Priority Maintenance Policy for
the description of maintenance problems regarded as a severe
hazard or health risk.
2.2 All efforts will be made to attend the property to assess the
matter within the specified emergency timeframe of 3 hours.
2.3 Where health and safety issues cannot be remedied within the
specified timeframe, the Coordinator Property Services must be
informed as a matter of priority.
2.4 The Coordinator Property Services must be informed if the
occupants have been provided with a medical certificate
stating that it would be a health risk if they were to remain in
the property longer than 24 hours without the problem being
rectified.
2.5 Alternative accommodation will be sourced from vacant
GROH stock until the tenant’s allocated property is safe and
fit for habitation.
2.6 In cases of emergency maintenance requiring the provision of
temporary alternative accommodation GROH will pay all
removal and furniture storage cost.
2.7 Where no alternative GROH accommodation is available,
hotel/motel accommodation will be provided upon approval by
GROH, until the tenant’s allocated property is declared safe and
fit for habitation.
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3. EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE CRITERIA
POLICY : PRACTICES / PROCEDURES
• The criteria for referring a hazardous property condition to
GROH are listed in the Emergency and Priority Maintenance
Policy.
3.1 Examples of emergency maintenance:
3.1.1 Electrical - Complete power outage due to an internal
fault, not attributable to the power supplier.
3.1.2 Plumbing - Burst Water Pipes or other serious water
leakage resulting in flooding to the property.
3.1.3 Toilet pan - Complete functional breakdown.
3.1.4 Septic Tanks/Soak Wells - Full to overflowing and
causing a health hazard.
3.1.5 Security – Major breach of security or vandalism of
the premises rendering the property unsafe.
3.1.6 Severe Flood, Fire, Storm, Cyclone or Earthquake
damage that renders the dwelling uninhabitable.
3.1.7 Gas Leaks.
3.1.8 Air-conditioner - Complete functional breakdown of
air-conditioner in temperatures over 40 degrees C.
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4. ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION – ROUTINE (UPGRADES & REFURBISHMENT)
POLICY : PRACTICES / PROCEDURES
• GROH may approve the provision of temporary alternative
accommodation for occupants of GROH owned properties in
cases where the property is scheduled for a major upgrade or
refurbishment that will severely disrupt the tenant(s).
• The tenant or the Regional Manager can make written
application to GROH for temporary alternative accommodation
if the GROH home becomes uninhabitable because of
disruption caused by the upgrade or refurbishment works.
• Each case will be judged on its merit.
4.1 All effort is made to schedule upgrade and refurbishment
work around the outgoing and ingoing tenants.
4.2 Alternative accommodation will be sourced from vacant
GROH stock until the tenant’s allocated property is safe and
fit for habitation.
4.3 Where no alternative GROH accommodation is available,
hotel/motel accommodation will be provided upon approval
of GROH, until the tenant’s allocated property is declared
safe and fit for habitation.
4.4 GROH will pay all removal and furniture storage costs
associated with relocation to alternative accommodation
necessitated by the undertaking of upgrades and
refurbishments.
4.5 If refurbishment is planned in a location where suitable
alternative accommodation is in limited supply and houses
are not left vacant long enough to allow for work to be
undertaken in between occupancies, GROH will seek
expressions of interest from tenants to participate in
refurbishment whilst remaining in occupation.
4.6 In the event that refurbishment is undertaken whilst the tenant
remains in occupation and the property becomes uninhabitable
during this process, GROH will provide hotel/motel
accommodation until the tenant’s allocated property is declared
safe and fit for habitation.
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POLICY : PRACTICES / PROCEDURES
4.7 GROH will not take responsibility for damages/loss to furniture
and belongings during removal or for items left (locked up) at
the premises. Items removed by designated Removalist and/or
stored in off site designated Storage areas already have
insurance liability.
5. REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATION FROM DEPARTMENTS - UNPLANNED
POLICY : PRACTICES / PROCEDURES
• In the event that a department requests accommodation in a
location where suitable housing is in short supply, GROH will
not be responsible for providing emergency or temporary
alternative accommodation during the period of time that it
takes to locate a suitable property.
5.1 The department will be responsible for providing alternative
accommodation for their employee until such time that GROH
can provide a suitable property.
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