PolicyBedroom Entitlement SDMS ID Number P2010/0653-001SDMS Title Bedroom Entitlement – Policy – P2010/0653-001Effective From 1 October 2013Applies to All Housing Tasmania clientsCustodian Manager Housing StrategySummary This policy outlines how Housing Tasmania assesses bedroom

entitlements for applicants applying for a Housing Tasmania home or transfer.

Replaces Doc. No. n/aAuthor Area Housing Strategy – Social and Affordable Housing Policy UnitContact Manager, Housing StrategyReview Date October 2017

Policy Purpose This policy aims to outline the consistent and fair methodology Housing Tasmania uses in assessing bedroom entitlements for applicants, and to provide transparent and accountable guidelines where a non-standard bedroom entitlement has been made.

Policy Intent The intent of this policy is to provide information on the Housing Tasmania process which matches properties within its portfolio to best meet the clients housing need. This may mean matching a client to a property that:

is large enough for the client’s household; meets any requirements for modifications (where

relevant); meets clients locational needs; factors in safety considerations; and makes the best use of available housing stock.

Application This policy is relevant to all new applications at Housing Connect for housing assistance with Housing Tasmania and, existing Housing Tasmania tenants and declared household members.Collectively all residents in Housing Tasmania properties are referred to as our ‘clients’. Our tenants are specifically the clients who have signed a current and legally binding tenancy agreement with Housing Tasmania.

A standard bedroom entitlement

A standard bedroom entitlement refers to the bedroom entitlement that generally applies to all Housing Tasmania allocations for either new applications or transfers. A standard bedroom entitlement is determined taking into account:

number of children within the household; gender and age of the children; and other household members included on the application

and their relationship to the applicant/ tenant.Generally, for most applicants a standard bedroom entitlement will apply. In some cases, it may be necessary to apply discretion where individual needs and variations in the

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level of amenity and size of properties exist.Where discretion is applied to allocate a non-standard bedroom entitlement, the rationale for this allocation is documented on the client’s file.

A non-standard bedroom entitlement

A non-standard bedroom entitlement refers to the bedroom allocation for applicants who require either smaller or larger accommodation than their standard bedroom entitlement. This may occur as a result of:

the level of amenity and functionality of the property; a medical condition necessitating an extra room; an applicant indicting a willingness to accept less

bedrooms than their standard bedroom entitlement; and

an excess of a particular type of housing stock in a region.

Client Information To assist with matching clients housing needs to the features and benefits of the property, there is an expectation that the information clients provide about their housing need is accurate and up-to-date.

The Rights of Clients

Having somewhere to live that is safe and affordable matters to everyone. The Tasmanian Homelessness Charter Guide is a statement of core values with many of the rights containing elements relevant to this policy:Treated Fairly: within this theme service principles include:

Policies apply equally to everyone.

Discretion Discretion allows organisations to be more responsive through early intervention/prevention.The area manager has the discretion to make decisions in cases where the policy does not effectively apply. This decision must be adequately documented on the relevant tenancy file. This supports the creation of mixed communities which promotes social and economic opportunities for all clients.

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Legal Framework This Policy adheres to the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 and the Homes Act 1935.

Exemptions Nil

Responsibilities/ Delegations

All Housing Operations staff are responsible for ensuring the correct use of this policy. Area managers are responsible for management of policy application.

Disclaimer This is a statewide policy and must not be re-interpreted so that subordinate policies exist. Should discrete operational differences exist, these should be set out in an operating procedure or protocol that must be approved at the same level as this policy.

Audit and Compliance

Failure to comply with this policy without providing a good reason for doing so, may lead to disciplinary action.Compliance with this policy is monitored by the Manager Housing Operations, through the delegated Area Managers.

Procedures and Forms

Bedroom entitlement procedures

Related Policies Connecting to Housing AssistanceEligibility for Housing Tasmania Properties PolicyHousing Assessment System Policy

Policy Title and Version Bedroom Entitlement version2.0Effective Date 1 October 2013Review Date October 2017Document Number P2010/0653-001Replaces Document Number

n/a

Custodian Housing Tasmania, Social and Affordable Housing PolicyApproved by Manager Housing Strategy

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This Policy may be varied, withdrawn or replaced at any time. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the Department of Health and Human Services. Please Destroy Printed Copies. The electronic version of this Policy is the approved and current version and is located on the Agency’s intranet. Any printed version is uncontrolled and therefore not current.

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