Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions about the Transition to Independence process. If you have any other questions, please contact AHV on 1300 724 882 or come in and see us.
Please click on the topic you would like more information on.
Signing up with AHV
The Rent
Tenancy Management
Arrears
Getting Repairs Done
Other AHV Information
Applications
Staying with OoH
Other Information
Signing Up With AHV
Q: Am I a tenant of the Aboriginal Rental Housing Program (ARHP)?
A: To find this out, you will need to speak to your Aboriginal Housing Officer or the Office of Housing.
Q: I’m in mainstream Office of Housing (either aboriginal or non-aboriginal tenant). Can I also become a tenant of AHV with the transition?
A: No, the transfer of tenancies is only for current tenants of the ARHP.
Q: I thought I was already with AHV. What’s the difference?
A: Currently you are a tenant of the OoH, but in the ARHP. Your tenancy and property are looked after by OoH and AHV together.
If you become a tenant of AHV, OoH will no longer manage your tenancy, but will still look after your property (eg for maintenance or upgrades).
If you transfer to AHV, you will sign a new lease with AHV and AHV will be your landlord. Your lease with OoH will end. You will then pay your rent to AHV not OoH.
Q: Are there benefits to signing up with AHV compared to my current tenancy with OoH?
A: Tenants of AHV will have an Aboriginal landlord, who can provide a greater emphasis on meeting the community’s needs. Other benefits include:
- Greater self-determination over Aboriginal housing and housing services,
- An Aboriginal landlord focused on providing more choice in housing options, with a particular emphasis on meeting individual needs.
Q:When can I sign up with AHV?
A: A communications strategy has been developed to ensure tenants are able to make an informed choice and consider the options. Tenants will be contacted in coming weeks with background information about the choice, including fact sheets. If there is sufficient support for the transition by ARHP tenants, tenants will then have the opportunity to transfer to AHV. Dates to sign up with AHV will be arranged with tenants on a region-by-region basis.
Q: What will happen once I have signed up as a tenant of AHV?
A: You will pay your rent to AHV and be supported by AHV for all your tenancy needs. The Director of Housing will continue to monitor the condition of your tenanted property and repair it when necessary.
Q: How long are AHV tenancies for?
A: The agreement will commence on the AHV tenancy start date and continue from week to week until terminated. This means that once you sign the lease, you will be able to stay as a tenant of AHV as long as you maintain your tenancy obligations.
Q: Will my obligations/rights/responsibilities change if I’m a tenant of AHV?
A: Your obligations will be to AHV instead of the OoH if you sign a lease with AHV. Both AHV as your landlord and you as the tenant must still meet the obligations as set out in the Residential Tenancies Act and other legislation.
Q: If I sign up with AHV, will I have any contact with the OoH?
A: Only to request maintenance for your property through the Maintenance Call Centre or if a property upgrade is to be done.
Q: Is this a tokenistic process? Is AHV being set up to fail?
A: This transition is something that AHV has been working on for 25 years. While it is a big responsibility, AHV is very aware of the risks and will do everything it can to manage them. That’s why we’ve decided to get tenancy management right before we move onto maintenance, and then hopefully be given the title to the properties as well.
The Rent
Q: If I sign up with AHV, who will I pay my rent to?
A: You will pay your rent to AHV, not OoH. There will still be several ways to pay your rent, eg. Centrepay, deposit book, automatic transfer, etc.
Q: Will my rent go up or down?
A: You currently pay a subsidised (rebated) rent to OoH based on your income and circumstances. You are currently not eligible to get Commonwealth Rent Assistance from Centrelink.
As a tenant of AHV, you will still pay rent based on your income, but you may also be eligible for Commonwealth Rent Assistance. If you receive Rent Assistance, then your rent will go up by the extra amount you get from Centrelink.
You wont be out of pocket, because the amount the rent goes up will be the same as what you get for Rent Assistance.
These changes to your rent will happen from the beginning of your new lease with AHV.
If you aren’t eligible for Rent Assistance from Centrelink, then your rent will stay the same.
Q: How do I apply for Commonwealth Rent Assistance?
A: We hope to make applying for Commonwealth Rent Assistance as easy as possible. When you sign up with Aboriginal Housing Victoria, you can sign an authority form which allows us to tell Centrelink your new rent, and they will arrange CRA for you.
More information on the changes to the way your rent would be calculated if you transferred to AHV will be provided in the form of more fact sheets and at the community forums to ensure you can make an informed choice regarding the transition. This information will include how Commonwealth Rent Assistance works, how it is calculated, and how the application / adjustment process will take place.
Centrelink will also be in attendance at the community forums to provide more information and to answer any questions you may have.
If you would like general information about the way that Commonwealth Rent Assistance works, who is eligible, maximum amount you could receive if you are eligible, etc., please contact your local Centrelink office.
Q: Are there going to be any extra costs to me if I sign up with AHV?
A: There will be no extra costs to you at all if you sign a lease with AHV.
Q: Will there be any other changes that I need to know about if I sign up with AHV?
A: No changes as long as you continue to meet your tenancy obligations eg pay rent on time.
Aboriginal Housing Victoria seeks to develop and manage the provision of housing assistance to the Aboriginal community in a manner that delivers accessible, affordable, appropriate and secure housing that meets the social, cultural and economic aspirations of the Victorian Aboriginal community.
Tenancy Management
Q: How will AHV look after my tenancy?
A: AHV will manage your tenancy by mail, telephone calls, and home visits to ensure that you are supported in your tenancy.
As a tenant of AHV, there will also be staff available to you at regional and metropolitan locations. Please feel free to make an appointment with AHV if you need any assistance.
AHV Housing Officers will also be able to refer you to other services that may be able to assist you with other related concerns.
You will continue to have access to AHV appeals and complaints processes. If you would like more information regarding these processes, please phone 1300 724 882 or speak to your AHV Housing Officer.
Q: What does it meant that AHV will manage tenancies in a more culturally appropriate way?
A: AHV was set up 25 years ago to advocate for Aboriginal tenants facing rent arrears and problems with their housing service. Over the years, AHV has worked to ensure that tenants are treated fairly, and provided with a number of opportunities for support to ensure they stay in their home.
An example of this is the fact that AHV does not currently allow OoH to take legal action against tenants without first meeting with the tenant and discussing payment options. Personal contact is key to the work of AHV. AHV believes this is the way it will ensure a better service.
AHV believes that this change will mean more consultation with and inclusion of the Aboriginal community in issues that impact on their lives.
Q: How will housing be allocated?
A: Housing is allocated by the tenancy team on a needs basis, from a waiting list. “Needs basis” refers to the number of rooms required, whether the house has modifications and so on.
Q: How often will I see an Aboriginal Housing Officer in my area?
A: AHV Housing Officers come out to visit new tenants within the first six weeks of them becoming a tenant. However, if you wish to see your AHV Housing Officer more regularly or for a particular reason, please feel free to make an appointment.
Q: Who will I talk to at AHV if at any time I get behind in my rent?
A: If you get behind in your rent or have any questions about your rental account, talk to the Housing Officer at AHV who looks after the suburb or region you live in.
Aboriginal Housing Officer for your region –
Ms Tracey Winmar – Southern/Western Metropolitan
Mr Steven James – Northern/Eastern Metropolitan
Mr Danny Chatfield – Barwon South West Region
Currently Vacant – Hume Region (please contact AHV on 03 9482 4585)
Ms Pauline Clamp – Grampians Region
Ms Janet Moore - Loddon Mallee Region
Ms Cheryl Jonkers - Gippsland Region
They may make suggestions to help you, or refer you to a support agency that can help you or advocate for you.
Q: How often will I get a rent statement?
A: Rent statements will be sent to all AHV tenants at least twice a year.
AHV may also send you a rent statement at other times, such as if you get behind with your rent.
If you would like a rent statement more often, you can ask AHV for one at any time.
Arrears
Q: If I have arrears will I be able to transfer?
A: If you are less than four weeks in arrears, you will be required to pay these arrears before you transfer. If you are more than 4 weeks in arrears, but enter into a repayment agreement with the Director of Housing and satisfactorily maintain this agreement for 3 months, you will also be able to transfer. If you fall into arrears again or cease to continue payment under the agreement you will not be transferred.
Getting Repairs Done
Q: As an AHV tenant, how will I get repairs done to my property (including emergency repairs)?
A: If you become an AHV tenant, the Office of Housing will continue to look after repairs to your property.
You will still need to call the OoH Maintenance Call Centre on 13 11 72 to ask for maintenance.
Q: As an AHV tenant, how long will I wait before the maintenance gets done from the time I ring the Call Centre?
A: There is no change to the way maintenance is done now. The time it takes depends on the category of the maintenance you need (urgent, responsive, cyclical, etc). The Call Centre will tell you how long it will take for a contractor to come to your property.
Q: What will happen with program works and upgrades to my property?
A: The OoH will still be responsible for contracting property upgrades, ie major works. However, please feel free to contact the AHV Asset Manager to discuss any concerns.
Q: Maintenance is currently not done correctly, or the contractors are rude and insensitive. Will anything be done about this.
A: In the future, AHV hopes to manage maintenance. This will mean that a register of local tradespeople from the Aboriginal community will be investigated.
Aboriginal Housing Officers will continue to support you if you have problems with maintenance once you come across to AHV.
Other AHV Information
Q: Will I be able to decorate my AHV property?
A: This will still depend on how you wish to decorate your house. You will need to get approval from AHV and AHV may ask you to pay to fix any changes to the condition of the property if you move out.
Q: Will extra people be able to come and stay with me if I’m renting from AHV?
A: Yes, however, if your visitor/s stay longer than 3 months, your rent may be affected.
You will need to talk to your Housing Officer about this.
Q: Am I allowed to have pets in my AHV home?
A: You will need to complete an application form.
AHV grants approval to keep pets as allowed by local council regulations, however, you will be responsible for the pet and you will be charged for any damage caused by the pet.
Q: If I change my mind, can I go back to OoH?
A: No. After you have signed a lease for the AHV and terminated your lease with the OoH, you will not be able to go back to the OoH without submitting an application for the waiting list.
Applications
Q: I’m currently on the OoH waiting list will I also have access to AHV?
A: When the transition commences, you will be offered a choice of whether you wish to be placed on Aboriginal Housing Victoria’s waiting list, remain on the Director of Housing’s waiting list or remain on both waiting lists.
Staying With OoH
Q: What will happen if I choose not to transfer to AHV?
A: Your tenancy will continue with OoH and will be managed by a Housing Services Officer from DHS Regional Housing Office. You will no longer have access to AHV services or an Aboriginal Housing Officer.
You will continue to pay your rent to OoH and call the Maintenance Call Centre when you want repairs to your property.
You will continue to have access to the OoH appeals and complaints processes and to mainstream support services.
More Information
If you would like to talk to an independent person for advice and support, contact the Indigenous Consumers Unit at Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 661 511.
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