The government wants to lease 200 homes across the NT for six year periods to reduce the public housing wait list.

Katherine’s waiting list for public homes are among the longest in the NT, with some waiting times more than six years. (See graph below).

A meeting will be held in Katherine on Thursday, August 10 at 1pm in the conference room of the NT Government Centre in First Street to discuss the scheme.

The long-term leases will be paid at market rent.

Proposals can also be submitted for existing properties less than five years old.

Housing Minister Gerry McCarthy today said property developers interested in leasing their properties for six year periods, could submit proposals to supply dwellings as public housing.

Mr McCarthy said this was part of a plan to reduce the public housing waitlist and increase the availability of housing by 200 properties, for low income earners, seniors and people living with a disability.

“We want every Territorian to have access to affordable and safe housing – a home provides the foundation for children to go to school, adults to get a good night’s sleep to go to work and for better outcomes across the community,” Mr McCarthy said.

“We will provide property developers or owners financial security with long-term leases at market rent, with the potential to extend for a further three years. This will help create jobs and supply more public housing.”

Tenants who qualify for social housing will be allocated dwellings that are appropriate to their needs.

“This project will give Territorians access to housing options that currently don’t exist – it’s important that we address the waitlist so everyone has access to a good home,” Mr McCarthy said.

“These long term leases and rental income gives security for developers.

“We want to hear from property developers which have construction underway, or a development that can be started immediately and completed prior to June 2020.”

The Department of Housing and Community Development today opened a ‘Requests for Proposals’, until August 31, 2017, for Alice Springs, Darwin, Katherine and Tennant Creek.