Public housing tenants in private rentals fear eviction in Victoria
Gail and Laura Innes face eviction from a private rental after public housing towers were demolished.
Gail and Laura Innes are a mother and daughter in public housing. The mother and daughter were moved to a private home under headleasing after their Port Melbourne estate was demolished in 2022.
Headleasing means the government pays market rent to the owner and charges the tenants less. In their case, the difference is $4,000 a month.
In August, a tribunal ruled their eviction notice invalid. But days later, a new notice arrived.
They must leave by 25 November. The bigger problem: tenants evicted from private rentals may be pushed to the bottom of public housing waiting lists.
Victoria is demolishing 44 old public housing towers and replacing them with a mix of social and community housing built with private companies.
- 2022
- Estate demolished
- $4,000
- Monthly rent difference
- 25 November
- Eviction deadline
- Disability pensioner in her 70s
- Gail's age and status
Why it mattersTenants in headleasing arrangements face genuine insecurity while on lengthy public housing waiting lists, with no guarantee of alternative housing if landlords move to sell.
AustraliaHundreds of Victorians currently in temporary private rentals may soon lack secure housing as the state's public housing transformation drags on, putting pressure on an already strained system.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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