Brisbane City Council
COMMUNITY HOUSING PARTNERSHIP PROJECT
(CHPP)
Expression of Interest to become a preferred Housing
Provider 2016 - 2019
Guidelines
Expression of Interest
All registered social housing providers are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
application to manage Council properties for the purpose of providing crisis and transitional
housing for disadvantaged people in Brisbane.
To complete the online application form go to https://brisbane.smartygrants.com.au/CHPP-201619 on the Brisbane City Council Website. Applications must be completed by 1 November 2015.
What is the Community Housing Partnership Project?
The Community Housing Partnership Project’s (CHPP) primary purpose is to provide crisis and
transitional housing to people experiencing homelessness and those that are at risk of
homelessness in Brisbane.
CHPP achieves this by utilising properties that are either resumed or held by Council for future
infrastructure works, and transfers the management of these properties to eligible CHPP housing
providers.
Since the inception of CHPP in 2003, tenancies have included homeless rough sleepers, people
with disabilities, women and children escaping domestic violence and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people.
How to become a CHPP housing provider
Council provides an opportunity for social housing providers across Brisbane to apply to be a
CHPP housing provider through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
Social housing providers, interested in being a CHPP housing provider, are invited to submit an
EOI application to lease a CHPP property or properties from Council for the 2016 – 2019 period.
To be eligible as a CHPP housing provider, organisations must be registered as social housing
providers under the Housing Act 2003 (as required by the Department of Housing and Public
Works). Preference will be given to those organisations that are accredited under the National
Community Housing Standards, can demonstrate that they are working towards accreditation or
are funded under the Specialist Homelessness Services connection (SHS).
CHPP Housing Provider Responsibilities
The CHPP housing provider will be responsible for:
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tenancy management and support (refer ‘Tenancy Management and Support’ below)
property management (refer ‘Property Management’ below)
attending six (6) housing provider network meetings a year
meeting all reporting requirements (refer ‘Reporting Requirements’ below)
ensuring rent levels are affordable and in line with the Department of Housing and Public
Works rent ready reckoner (refer ‘Rental Rates’ below)
rates, public liability and contents insurance
administration costs (e.g. proportional costs for electricity, telephone and fuel)
wages that are directly related to property and tenancy management costs
other support costs as required.
Tenancy Management and Support
The CHPP housing provider will be responsible for ensuring that tenants are offered appropriate
ongoing support during their tenancies and transition to longer term accommodation.
This includes undertaking initial tenant assessments and developing tailored support and
transition plans to ensure tenants are provided with the necessary assistance during their
tenancies.
It is expected that any surplus funds generated through access to these properties will also be
used for tenancy support and property management. The use of such funds must in the first
instance be negotiated with Council.
Property Management
The CHPP housing provider will be responsible for:
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regular maintenance of the property or properties (as detailed below)
replacing all fixtures and fittings that have been damaged by occupants and/or through
housing tenant or provider neglect.
Council will replace or upgrade fixtures and fittings that have been well maintained but have
become unserviceable through regular use.
CHPP housing provider responsibilities for
general and responsive maintenance
Fencing, gates
Damaged, missing wire, palings, metal
sheeting etc
Gate operation, hinges, catches and fittings
Yard maintenance
Fill holes in yard
Mow grass, lawn
Weed gardens, prune shrubs
Trimming trees
Council’s responsibilities for structural
maintenance and replacement
Fencing, gates
Full replacement greater than one panel of a
section or perimeter
Yard maintenance
Removal of large trees
(In accordance with Natural Asset Local Laws)
Clothes Line
Oil, repair mechanism
Wires, arms, fittings
Maintain in good working order
Sub-Floor – Stumps, foundation
Missing, broken, rotted, damaged, battening,
linings between stumps
Breached ant barriers
Stairs, ramps, handrails, patios, porches
Broken, rotted, loose, damaged treads, boards,
rails, posts
External cladding, soffit linings
Damage to sheeting, linings
Loose materials, mouldings etc
Roof, gutter and downpipe
Cleaning of roof gutters
Plumbing and drainage
Dripping taps, faulty spouts
Leaks to water heater
Leaking waste pipes to fixtures
Leaking toilet cistern, flushing problem
Loose toilet pan, cracked-broken lid
Doors and windows
Broken glass, reglazing
Faulty locks, hinges and fittings
Clothes Line
Full replacement if structurally unsafe or
unusable
Sub-Floor – Stumps, foundation
Damage caused by soil subsidence,
movement, tree roots etc
Asbestos removal of linings between stumps
Stairs, ramps, handrails, patios, porches
Full replacement if structurally unsafe or
unusable
External cladding, soffit linings
Full replacement
Damage sustained by soil subsidence,
movement, tree roots etc
Asbestos removal and full replacement
Roof, gutter and downpipe
Full replacement of loose, leaking, damaged,
sheeting, capping, flashing, gutters, downpipes
Plumbing and drainage
Full replacement of water and waste water pipe
work
Clear and repair blocked sewer/storm water
drains caused by tree roots
Full replacement of toilet pan and cistern
Upgrade from single flush to dual flush
Doors and windows
Full replacement
Lost, broken keys
Jammed, hard to open-close
Damaged surfaces
Reporting Requirements
The successful applicant will be required to record and report the following information to
Brisbane City Council quarterly or when requested:
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current tenancy figures (this includes the number of people and duration of stay)
target groups assisted
demographic information relating to tenants
vacancy rates
property and asset maintenance plan
property maintenance undertaken (description and costs incurred)
type and level of support provided to tenants
housing outcomes achieved
other housing provider or tenant information when required.
Rental Rates
Council owned properties are made available to CHPP housing providers at a peppercorn rental
rate of $1 per annum.
The CHPP housing provider will be responsible for setting a rent policy in regard to the tenants
accessing the accommodation.
Rent levels must be affordable for the tenants. The Department of Housing and Public Works
‘rent ready reckoner’ for social housing providers should be used as a guide for rent setting.
The rent levels set in the ready reckoner should be regarded as the uppermost limit.
Lease agreement
The property is secured by way of a management agreement (lease) between Brisbane City
Council and the social housing provider organisation. Management agreement renewal will be
subject to satisfactory management of the property according to the management agreement.
Council will reserve the right to cease the lease arrangements should the property or tenancy
management be deemed unsatisfactory.
Matching of properties to providers
Successful organisations will be placed in a CHPP preferred provider pool, ready for matching
with properties as they become available.
Matching of properties to providers will be based on the following three categories.
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Crisis Accommodation: A small proportion of properties will be designated to
accommodate people who are in crisis and in need of immediate accommodation (e.g.
people escaping domestic violence). These properties will be matched to housing
providers that demonstrate experience in dealing with crisis accommodation and have
well established partnership agreements with support agencies that have a history of
dealing with people in crisis.
2.
High Needs Accommodation: A proportion of properties will be matched to
housing providers that demonstrate experience in dealing with the homeless and high
needs people and families. These housing providers will be required to have partnerships
with support agencies that have a history of working with people with high needs.
3.
Transitional Accommodation: A proportion of properties will be designated to
accommodate people that have transitioned from crisis and/or high needs accommodation
and whose support needs are now less intensive. These housing providers will be
required to have partnerships with support agencies experienced in supporting people into
long term accommodation.
How are applications assessed?
Criteria
Percentage
Demonstrated experience managing tenancies for people eligible for social
housing, including partnerships with support agencies.
30%
Evidence of the assessment process for potential tenants and development
of support plans.
20%
Evidence of experience supporting tenants transitioning to long term
accommodation.
25%
Demonstrated experience with property management and management of
responsive maintenance on properties.
20%
Evidence of accreditation under the National Community Housing
Standards or evidence of working towards accreditation.
5%
Feedback
Unsuccessful applicants will be provided with feedback upon request.
Contact Information
Community Housing Partnership Project officer
Connected Communities branch
Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001
Level 11, Brisbane Square
266 George St
Brisbane Qld 4000
Telephone: 3178 0762 or 0438 137 538
E-mail: Sara.Lawless@brisbane.qld.gov.au