How to appeal a public housing decision

If you’re unhappy with a decision made by the SA Housing Trust (the Trust), your first step is to contact the Trust and ask to speak to the person who made the decision. That person will explain the decision and the reasons behind it.

If you have new information or your circumstances have changed, please contact the Trust on 131 299 ☏

If you’re still unhappy, you have the option to appeal the decision in one of the following ways:

  1. Download and complete the SA Housing Trust Appeal Form and —
    1. Post to: Customer Feedback, GPO Box 1669, Adelaide SA 5001, or
    2. Attend in Person: At any SA Housing Trust office
  2. Call us Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm — Contact Centre:  131 299 ☏  and request a form be sent to you.

All Housing Trust customers

Including, but not limited to:

  1. Housing applications: housing needs assessment outcomes, cancellation of application, allocations.
  2. Tenant debt: maintenance charges, rent arrears, charges to your account that may be incorrect.
  3. Tenancy matters: non-renewal of lease, transfers, caretakers, rent assessment, probationary tenancy, formal warnings or breaches.
  4. Maintenance requests: fencing, disability modifications, floor coverings, removal of trees, changes to your property.
  5. Decisions about applying to purchase your SA Housing Trust home
  6. Private rental assistance applications.

You can't appeal:

  1. Disputes between neighbours
  2. Eviction (once legal action has commenced)
  3. Government policy
  4. Complaints about staff behaviour
  5. Matters that are currently before a Tribunal or have already been appealed
  6. Community housing matters – refer to your Community Housing Provider policy.

If you’re unsure as to what you can appeal, please contact the SA Housing Trust on 131 299  ☏

The SA Housing Trust may accept or reject an application based on the length of time that has passed since the decision was made or if the issue can no longer be resolved.

The appeal process is an administrative review of a SA Housing Trust’s decision, to ensure the policy has been interpreted correctly and fairly applied.

The appeal process has two stages:

  • Stage 1 is an internal review conducted by the SA Housing Trust
  • Stage 2 is an independent review conducted by the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT).

Stage 1: Internal SA Housing Trust review

When the SA Housing Trust receives an appeal, they will review the decision and either affirm, vary or overturn it. A letter will be sent to you advising of the outcome. If the decision is affirmed or varied, a written statement and relevant policies will be sent with the letter to explain why the decision has not been overturned. If you still believe the decision is incorrect, you may request an independent review by SACAT (stage 2).

Stage 2: SACAT review

You may apply to SACAT to review the Trust’s decisions. SACAT may hold a hearing where it will consider all relevant information provided by you and the Trust, and will then make a decision. Time limits apply to the submission period of an application to SACAT, ranging from 7 to 30 days, depending on the issue.

Go to www.sacat.sa.gov.au website or call 1800 723 767 ☏  or email sacat@sa.gov.au ✉ for more details.

If assistance is required: