Entering rental housing
Summary
There is a sizable minority of Commonwealth Rent Assistance recipients (not on the public housing waiting list, potentially eligible for public housing, and see value in public housing) who do not apply because of disadvantages they perceive with public housing, or because they are unaware of public housing. Security of tenure is an important factor for those putting themselves on public housing waiting lists, and many would forego a low paid job to retain such security of tenure. Housing affordability is not always an overriding consideration when applying for public housing. Between 70 per cent and 85 per cent of waiting list applicants were willing to pay more for certain amenities such as better location, quality, safety, or size.
Project Number: 50142
Research Theme: Private_rental, Public_and_Community_housing
Project Leader: Burke, Terry
Funding Year: 2003
Research Centre: Swinburne-Monash
Research & Policy Bulletin
Issue 062: Which households eligible for public housing do not apply and why?
Among low-income households in private rental, who are potentially eligible for public housing, those who value security of tenure tend to apply for public housing while those who value choice tend to remain in private rental. Additionally, poor awareness of public housing and long wait times are deterrents to households applying for public housing.
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68 KB PDF Document
Description
This study was designed to undertake a national survey of households of entry into social housing; undertake a parallel national survey of rent assisted private renters to determine motivations for choice of private rental over public or community housing and to measure unmet need for social housing; undertake a pilot post-occupancy survey in the social housing sector in order to evaluate the usefulness and feasibility of such surveys; Determine the extent of 'churning' and multiple listing in public and community housing. Through the achievement of these aims, the study provides new data on client's aspirations and needs for the two major forms of housing assistance in Australia, social housing and 'rent assistance' private rental. Entry information is an important potential method for identifying problems in social or private rental housing that affect entry decision making, for designing appropriate allocations systems and providing information for better tenant and asset management. The project also aimed to give us better information on awareness of, and perceptions around, the different rental sectors, on the relative attractiveness of different forms of housing assistance, and the choice/constraint trade-offs that low income/special needs households make. Further, by addressing issues of aspirations of people applying for public housing and those entering private rental, the research aims to enable a better understanding of future needs and through asking about perceptions of support provide information about linkage issues. Because of the sample size in the wait list survey, the research also expected to find out more about specific groups' (e.g. aged persons) housing expectations and experiences.More Information
Research and Policy Bulletin: Issue 062: Which households eligible for public housing do not apply and why?
68 KB PDF Document
Positioning Paper: No. 025: Entering rental housing
762 KB PDF Document
Final Report: No. 059: Entering rental housing
1.89 MB PDF Document
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