Media Statements - Homeswest tenants happy with housing

8/12/05

A major national public housing survey has found that most Homeswest tenants in Western Australia are satisfied with their accommodation - and more satisfied than they were five years ago.

The Public Housing National Social Housing Survey has been conducted either annually or biannually since 1996. It examines tenant perspectives and provides essential data for the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement.

Housing and Works Minister Francis Logan said the overall results for WA were very good, with tenant satisfaction figures at the upper end of the scale in most categories.

Mr Logan said the survey, which was released today, found that 73 per cent of WA tenants were satisfied with the overall service provided by the Department of Housing and Works (DHW) since April last year.

“This figure is only slightly lower than the 76 per cent achieved in Queensland and South Australia,” he said.

“However, all other States and Territories recorded lower levels of overall satisfaction.

“In WA, 80 per cent of tenants said their Homeswest home met their needs. This was just one percentage point lower than South Australia, which rated the highest.”

Mr Logan said the ‘provision of clear information’ and ‘treatment by staff’ were areas where the DHW was judged to be performing well.

He said 65 per cent of WA tenants were satisfied with the overall condition of their home - a three per cent increase since 2003 - and almost two-thirds were satisfied with day-to-day maintenance.

“Of the WA respondents, 59 per cent stated that their overall quality of life had improved as a result of living in public housing,” the Minister said.

“The survey results represent a good result for the DHW.

”What is most gratifying is that the survey shows an increase in overall satisfaction for public housing tenants in Western Australia.”

The full survey results are available from http://www.aihw.gov.au/housing/assistance/nshs/index.cfm

Minister's office: 9222 8950