The poor condition of some State-owned houses in Hume has caught the attention of city councillors. They’ve invited the Minister for Housing Harriet Shing MP to Hume to hear about her department’s shortcomings.
“The sad reality is that across the very many social housing dwellings in the Hume municipality, there are very many that sadly fall into a significant state of disrepair,” said Aitken ward councillor Joseph Haweil.
“That disrepair often involves long grass, excessive vegetation, dumped items, and a significant amount of rubbish.”
Cllr Haweil also claimed some state-owned homes, there are more than 1,500 in Hume, present health hazards such as fire risks, odour, vermin, and unstable structures.
Speaking at a Hume City Council meeting on Monday 15 April, Cllr Haweil said he did not want to cast a negative impression social housing or those who live in them.
“I want to call upon Victorian Housing to do what it should be doing in terms of proper upkeep and maintenance of these properties,” said Cllr Haweil.
“There are at least 20 to 30 referrals each year that Hume City Council officers make to the department for Families, Fairness, and Housing for attention and response when it comes to these matters.
“And the sad experience of our officers has been that in a large part, most of these requests go ignored.”
He said Hume Council has found itself an “untenable position” when responding to legitimate amenity and safety concerns of residents. In the past council has taken legal action against the State housing department to address poor housing in the city.
“Sadly, complaint escalation and management pathways for unsightly and dilapidated homes are not responded to,” said Cllr Haweil.
“There are a massive number of properties in a shocking state and it can’t be council that bears the burden of resident complaints or the burden of action when we have very limited remedies.”
Sunbury councillor Jack Medcraft said he knows of a State home that has been empty for two years.
“I rang up the department for housing and they said they own the building but leased to Vincent Care,” said Cllr Medcraft.
“I called Vincent Care to find out why this house is being stored. I heard a message [on the phone] that they are busy and ‘clunk’. So you can’t speak to anyone. You can’t leave a message. I tried four times.”
“They need to face us and hear directly what we are going through because we are the ones who cop the complaints from people.”
Councillors voted to:
Write to the Victorian Minister of Housing, The Hon. Harriet Shing MP and the State Members for Broadmeadows and Greenvale:
- Expressing Council’s concern about the condition and state of social housing stock across the municipality
- Calling on the Department to develop a clear and timely response pathway for unsightly and dilapidated properties owned or managed by the Department, ensuring Council and its residents are kept informed of progress and outcomes
- Seeking the implementation of a proactive inspection and maintenance program for social housing properties to ensure they do not pose safety or amenity impacts for Hume City residents
- Write to the Department of Fairness, Families and Housing requesting attendance at a future Council briefing to discuss the social assets and maintenance management
- Write to the CEO’s of all social housing providers and community owned properties requesting their approach to asset maintenance and that they receive a copy of the letters sent to the ministers of parliament
