Long term community housing program
The Long Term Community Housing Program (LTCHP) is a Queensland and Australian Government funded program. It helps registered providers to supply community managed rental housing that’s appropriate and affordable for eligible people. This housing is for people in urban, regional and remote areas where housing needs are not effectively met.
Providers who get assistance under the program will operate as part of the One Social Housing System. Providers must make sure clients have access to information about the One Social Housing System and applying for housing assistance under the system.
The provider must comply with the objectives of the program.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the LTCHP, applicants must:
Allowable expenditure
To achieve the objectives of the program the provider must only use receipts for the following expenditure items incurred in connection with the property. These include:
- local council rates and charges
- utility charges including water, electricity and gas (for communal areas and office accommodation only)
- insurance and legal expenses
- administration and audit expenses
- rent arrears and bad debts written off
- funds for future commitments as agreed between the provider and the department
- any property maintenance or repairs
- the implementation of an asset management plan developed by the provider under section 38 of the Housing Regulation 2003 (PDF, 482KB) (The Regulation).
- tenancy and property management costs, including property inspections costs
- other expenses agreed in writing by the department and the provider.
Policy requirements
The provider must comply with its obligations under the Housing Regulation 2003 (PDF, 482KB). (the Regulation), including its obligations to keep and implement policies in sections 25, 26, 26B, 27A, 29 and 34.
The below is not a definite list of policies required to be kept and/or implemented by providers. Each policy requirement must be read together with the assistance agreement and the Regulation.
- Referrals Policy (s25 of the Regulation)
- Eligibility Policy (s26 of the Regulation)
- Allocations Policy (s26B of the Regulation)
- Duration of Need Policy (s27A of the Regulation)
- Dispute Resolution and Review of Decisions (s29 of the Regulation)
- Rent (s34 of the Regulation)
Property Management
The provider must comply with its obligations under the Regulation, including implementing and keeping an:
- annual maintenance plan and budget to prioritise maintenance work (section 36 of the Regulation)
- asset management plan (section 38 of the Regulation).
All property used by the provider to supply a housing service must be kept in good order and repair.
Maintenance and repairs
When the provider carries out repairs, any broken items must be replaced with items of a similar standard. Maintenance must be carried out in a lawful manner and be of good quality, durable, and made of low maintenance materials to cater for high wear and tear.
The provider must comply with all laws and regulations in relation to the health and safety of people using or entering the property.
Purchases made and work undertaken in relation to the property must be:
- the best value for money
- completed by tradespeople selected through fair and equitable means, free from any conflict of interest
- completed in a timely manner by a qualified licensed tradesperson with adequate insurance cover.
If a tradesperson is engaged for an extended period of time, the provider must periodically check the tradesperson is licensed to carry out the works and holds adequate insurance cover.
Insurance
The provider must hold public liability insurance for a minimum amount of $10,000,000 (10 million dollars).
Reporting
1.1 The provider must provide the following information and reports to the department within 21 days of being requested to do so in writing:
- a copy of any required insurance policies, the receipts for the last premiums and certificates of currency of all such insurance policies
- other information related to the provider's operations required by the department.
1.2 Without limiting the above clause (1.1), the provider must provide the following completed reports to the department in the time frames detailed below:
- the Social Housing Annual Financial Return in the form or system as provided by the department, by 30 November each year
- a report that explains how it has met its obligations under the assistance agreement for each annual period ending 30 June, by 30 November each year
- the annual Social Housing Program data collection survey (as supplied by the department) for each annual period ending 30 June, by 31 August each year.
More information
For more information on community housing:
- applications, referrals and allocations, contact your nearest Housing Service Centre
- service requirements, reviews and compliance, contact
- Housing Services on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or (07) 3225 1253 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5pm)
- email housingprovidermanagement@communities.qld.gov.au
