Queensland rental property owners can get guaranteed income for their property if they take part in the Help to Home initiative.
The program aims to help increase the supply of homes available to Queenslanders in need and since it was announced in July, 31 expressions of interest have been received and 19 properties allocated to households.
Through Help to Home, properties are sourced from the private market and subleased to registered community housing providers (RCHPs), which will deliver specialist tenancy and property management services. Property tenants will need to meet social housing eligibility criteria. In limited circumstances, properties may be managed by the local Queensland Government Housing Service Centre.
This arrangement provides certainty for property owners through a guaranteed income stream for the term of the head lease. It also allows tenants to access safe, stable accommodation while a longer-term housing solution is established. Help to Home provides an opportunity for registered community housing providers to deliver more housing outcomes in their local communities.
The initiative is looking for vacant single or multi-unit dwellings, which may be new to market or not previously available through private rental. This may include properties that were previously used for commercial use, short-term, holiday or student accommodation or for a similar purpose.
Expressions of interest to take part in the initiative are open until 31 October.
The Queensland government said it already invested $126,000 in head leases so far, which has seen individuals and households from the social housing register allocated to homes in Keperra and Beenleigh.
Head leasing under Help to Home is aimed at increasing social housing supply with an allocation of $40 million to head lease up to 1,000 private market properties over the next two years.
The two-year head leasing arrangement provides certainty for property owners, with a guaranteed income for two years, paid three months in advance, and then every quarter, subject to the terms of the lease.
The Queensland government said it had continued to act on the urgent issue of affordable housing, including rolling out 7,400 social and affordable homes by 30 June 2025 under the Queensland Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021–2025.
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