This policy only applies to housing managed by the SA Housing Trust in the remote Aboriginal communities below:

  • Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands
  • Dunjiba
  • Umoona
  • Yalata
  • Koonibba.

This  policy sets out:

  • how the SA Housing Trust manage registrations of interest and offers of housing for housing managed in remote Aboriginal communities
  • when and what type of maintenance the SA Housing Trust will carry out in remote Aboriginal communities
  • who's responsible for paying for costs associated with maintenance.

Registering for remote Aboriginal communities housing

Housing managed by the SA Housing Trust in remote Aboriginal communities is for people who have a direct cultural or family connection to the Aboriginal community they register for.

Customers registering their interest in housing managed by the SA Housing Trust in remote Aboriginal communities must meet all other eligibility for public housing requirements in line with the Eligibility for housing policy.

Registrations for housing in an Aboriginal community aren't placed in a category. The SA Housing Trust assesses the needs of the registrant and other household members to determine their support and housing requirements.

The organisation the customer registers with is the primary contact organisation responsible for managing the customer's registration of interest in housing.

Community housing providers manage registrations in line with the Community Housing registration, allocation and tenure policy.

Registrations are placed on a register. The person who registers their interest is called the registrant.

The register includes registrations for other housing programs, for example the Homelessness Supportive Housing program, and SA Housing Trust tenants registered for transfers.

The SA Housing Trust  won't accept a registration from someone who's excluded from SA Housing Trust services in line with the Good neighbour policy.

Registration of interest and allocations are managed in line with the Housing registration and allocation policy.

Offering housing in remote Aboriginal communities housing

The SA Housing Trust compiles a shortlist of eligible registrants for remote Aboriginal communities housing for the relevant community's governing body to consider. The governing body decides which registrant the property should be offered to.

When shortlisting, the SA Housing Trust confirms all the below conditions are met:

  • the registrant is connected to the community in line with the Eligibility for housing policy
  • the registrant’s still eligible for housing
  • the property the registrant may be offered is appropriate for their household and circumstances
  • an intervention order won’t be breached if the registrant moves into the property they would be offered
  • the registrant’s previous lease agreement wasn’t ended by the SA Housing Trust within the last 6 months for reasons other than antisocial behaviour or serious misconduct, for example debt.

The SA Housing Trust offers registrants for remote Aboriginal communities housing an ongoing lease agreement, also known as a periodic lease agreement.

Rent is calculated in line with the Rent policy.

Maintenance in remote Aboriginal communities housing

Maintenance in remote Aboriginal communities is managed in line with the SA Housing Trust’s Maintenance policy unless otherwise stated in this policy.

Cyclical maintenance is scheduled during the year in remote Aboriginal communities and may include plumbing, hot water service and electrical safety checks. Responsive maintenance requests may be addressed during programmed maintenance, depending on timeframes.

The Umuwa SA Housing Trust office manage maintenance for the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands and Dunjiba. All other remote Aboriginal communities maintenance are managed through the Maintenance Contact Centre.

Tenant charges for non-fair wear and tear

In the remote Aboriginal communities, fair wear and tear is deterioration or damage of the property associated with the property’s age and reasonable use, taking into account the following:

  • the environmental conditions
  • the logistical complexity of undertaking repairs
  • the higher occupancy levels of these properties.

Non-fair wear and tear tenant maintenance charges are applied where there is significant damage that is verified as being caused by the wilful actions of the tenant or a member of their household.

Call out fees aren’t charged for tenants living in Aboriginal communities.

SA Housing Trust responsibilities

The SA Housing Trust's responsible for:

  • carrying out maintenance when required to bring the property up to a suitable standard as set out in the Maintenance accommodation standards
  • determining whether or not damage is considered fair wear and tear
  • paying for maintenance costs associated with fair wear and tear
  • investigating and managing insurance claims
  • managing maintenance issues related to domestic abuse in line with the Domestic abuse policy.

Tenant's responsibilities

Tenants are responsible for:

  • the basic maintenance of the property, for example replacing light globes, treating minor mould or reporting major mould in the property
  • keeping the property and surrounding area clean and in good condition, for example cleaning, removing rubbish
  • maintaining garden areas that are their responsibility, for example mowing lawns, controlling weeds
  • keeping plumbing fixtures, pipes, water tanks and drainage systems clean and sanitary, for example not flushing sanitary items down the toilet
  • telling the SA Housing Trust about any damage, blockage, breakage or deterioration in or around the property as soon as possible
  • providing access to the property so maintenance can be carried out, in line with the Maintenance non-access procedures.

Prioritising maintenance

Maintenance is prioritised depending on how urgent it is.

Priority is determined by the Maintenance Field Officer.

Maintenance in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands and Dunjiba are prioritised as follows:

Priority 1 are emergency works and generally starts either:

  • the same day if it’s reported to the contractor before 1pm
  • the next day if it’s reported after 1pm.

Priority 2 are urgent works and starts within 3 calendar days of it being reported.

Priority 3 are standard works and starts within 14 calendar days of it being reported.

Priority 4 are directed works and starts within 30 calendar days of it being reported as directed by the SA Housing Trust.

Priority P are works for programmed preventative maintenance work, minor property upgrades and vacancy management. Work starts as directed by the SA Housing Trust.

Maintenance in Umoona, Yalata and Koonibba are prioritised the same as all other SA Housing Trust properties in line with the Maintenance policy.

Maintenance - Homeland properties in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands

The SA Housing Trust may provide maintenance on occupied Homeland properties in remote areas of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands at the owner's request if both the below conditions are met:

  • it's within 30 kilometres of an Aboriginal community
  • there's a risk to an occupant's health or safety.

Home improvements and alterations

Tenants in housing managed by the SA Housing Trust in remote Aboriginal communities can apply to the SA Housing Trust for approval to carry out their own home improvements or alterations in line with the Maintenance policy.

Related  information

Controlling documents

This policy is based on and complies with:

Supporting documents

  • Maintenance policy
  • Maintenance accommodation standards
  • Maintenance non-access procedures
  • Maintenance programs procedure
  • Maintenance tenant charges procedures
  • Property incidents and personal injury procedures
  • Tenant alterations procedures

Related policies and other documents