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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 901 asked in the Legislative Council on 1 September 2022 by Hon Dr Brad Pettitt

Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Housing
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

(1) How many Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) properties does the Department of Communities administer for each of the regions?
(2) For each region, how many GROH properties are currently vacant, and for how long have they been vacant?
(3) For each region, what was the average vacancy time of GROH properties in the financial year 2021-2022?
(4) For each region, what was the longest period a GROH property was vacant in 2021-2022?

Answered on 11 October 2022

1.      As at 30 August 2022, there were 5,012 properties in the Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) portfolio across the State, located in the following regions:

Region

Properties

North Metro

1

South Metro

29

East Metro

2

Great Southern

263

Southwest

215

Goldfields

786

Midwest/Gascoyne

575

Pilbara

1348

West Kimberley

800

East Kimberley

418

Wheatbelt

575

Total

5,012

2.      As at 30 August 2022, there were 596 vacant GROH properties across the State. Of these, 472 were allocated to client agencies for recruitment and staffing requirements and 124 were unallocated. Allocated and unallocated vacant properties by regions are provided in the table below: 

Region

Allocated Vacant

Unallocated Vacant

Total

North Metro

-

1

1

South Metro

5

2

7

East Metro

-

-

-

Great Southern

34

2

36

Southwest

17

3

20

Goldfields

75

21

96

Midwest/Gascoyne

72

12

84

Pilbara

102

40

142

West Kimberley

62

14

76

East Kimberley

39

8

47

Wheatbelt

66

21

87

Total

472

124

596

3-4

Allocated vacant properties by length of time vacant

Region

Vacant 0-3 months

Vacant 3-6 months

Vacant 6-12 months

Vacant 12+ months

North Metro

-

-

-

-

South Metro

2

2

1

-

East Metro

-

-

-

-

Great Southern

13

12

6

3

Southwest

11

3

3

-

Goldfields

32

13

11

19

Midwest/Gascoyne

39

12

15

6

Pilbara

62

23

9

8

West Kimberley

43

12

6

1

East Kimberley

22

7

8

2

Wheatbelt

28

12

12

14

Total

252

96

71

53

Short term vacancies of allocated properties are expected due to staff change overs or agencies recruitment. Of the allocated vacant properties, a total of 252 have been vacant for less than three months.

The Department of Communities monitors vacancies of allocated properties and may reallocate properties to other client agencies if the dwelling has been vacant for more than six months.

Unallocated vacant properties by length of time vacant

Region

Vacant 0-3 months

Vacant 3-6 months

Vacant 6-12 months

Vacant 12+ months

North Metro

-

-

-

1

South Metro

-

-

-

2

East Metro

-

-

-

-

Great Southern

-

-

-

2

Southwest

-

-

-

3

Goldfields

-

1

-

20

Midwest/Gascoyne

3

2

1

6

Pilbara

1

-

2

37

West Kimberley

5

-

1

8

East Kimberley

-

1

2

5

Wheatbelt

-

2

1

18

Total

9

6

7

102

The above unallocated properties may be vacant for a number of reasons, including new properties coming into the portfolio not yet assigned to a client agency, where public sector employees seek private housing rather than GROH; aged stock; stock poorly located in the district/town; the district/town being in decline due to economic factors resulting in lower demand; and, awaiting refurbishment or earmarked for redevelopment.

The Department of Communities assesses all vacant properties, including long-term vacant GROH properties with no demand from client agencies, with a view to bringing these properties back online as soon as possible. Where appropriate, GROH properties that no longer meet the requirements and demand of client agencies are being considered to be made available for clients on the public housing wait list.

In each region there are properties which are long term voids that have been vacant for significant periods, including for the whole of the 2021-22 financial year. These properties include those vacant due to being flagged for demolition due to condition, are legacy assets not suitable as residential tenancies, are properties located in very remote locations with limited demand, and properties pending or undergoing significant refurbishment.