‘Forcing’ seniors out of homes?

The NSW government has introduced a new charge on public housing tenants who have empty rooms in their home.

The state government has announced it will impose a ‘vacant bedroom charge’ on public housing tenants if they choose to continue to live in a residence with a number of vacant bedrooms.

A charge of $20 per week for singles and $30 per week for couples will be placed on tenants who refuse offers to relocate to alternative accommodation.

Seniors lobby group, National Seniors, is concerned that single/couple pensioners and other seniors on lowincomes will have to bear these higher costs or move house.

“Single tenants and couples who are living in large properties should move to a more suitably sized home when one is available,” said Pru Goward, Minister for Family and Community Services.

In September, Housing NSW will start targeting areas with large numbers of tenants who are living in homes which are bigger than they need and where families are waiting for housing, such as Liverpool, Shellharbour and Mount Druitt.

National Seniors said any seniors/pensioners who are willing to move should be assisted by the government to ensure they can move to appropriate housing with similar security in the same location.