XN000022-1991-09-26 — Page 10

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1991

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF RENT REVIEW REPORT ENDORSED

(THURSDAY)

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AT ITS FIRST OPEN MEETING TODAY ENDORSED THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO REVIEW DOMESTIC RENT POLICY AND ALLOCATION STANDARDS.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE SUBMITTED FOR THE AUTHORITY'S CONSIDERATION FOLLOWING A THREE-MONTH PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE AD HOC COMMITTER'S REPORT, WHICH ENDED ON 31 JULY.

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THE THREE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS ENDORSED BY THE AUTHORITY ARE:

THE PRESENT BIENNIAL RENT REVIEW SHOULD BE MAINTAINED; PUBLIC HOUSING RENTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO INCLUDE RATES, AND ALLOWING FUTURE TENANTS TO OPT FOR A LARGER OR SMALLER ALLOCATION STANDARD.

A HOUSING SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD RECOMMENDED THAT THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF REVIEWING RENTS EVERY TWO YEARS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED BECAUSE "A CLEAR MAJORITY OF THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES WHICH HAVE COMMENTED ON THE ISSUE SUPPORTED CONTINUING WITH THE BIENNIAL REVIEWS."

"DURING THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE, SOMB RESPONDENTS SUGGESTED THAT THE PERIOD BETWEEN REVIEWS SHOULD BE LENGTHENED TO FOUR YEARS ONCE THE AUTHORITY HAS ACHIEVED A BALANCED BUDGET," THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.

"THE

AD HOC COMMITTEE DOES NOT RECOMMEND THIS CHANGE, SINCE IT COULD NECESSITATE HEFTY RENT INCREASES TO COVER THE RISE IN COSTS, ETC.

ON THE POLICY OF CHARGING RENTS INCLUSIVE OF RATES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE AUTHORITY NOTED THAT DURING THE CONSULTATION, CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT HAD BEEN EXPRESSED FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THIS PRACTICE.

RENT

THEREFORE

"RATES INCREASES TAKE EFFECT IN APRIL WHILST BIENNIAL REVIEWS TAKE EFFECT IN BITHER APRIL, SEPTEMBER OR DECEMBER. SEPARATE INCREASES BETWEEN RENT REVIEWS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF INCREASES IN RATES WOULD BE RESENTED BY TENANTS.

T

WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSAL OF ALLOWING TENANTS A CHOICE BETWEEN THE CURRENT MINIMUM ALLOCATION STANDARD OF 5.5 SQUARE METRES INTERNAL

AREA

A FLOOR

MEDIAN RENT (IFA) PER PERSON WITH RENT NOT EXCEEDING RATIO INCOME

(MRIR) OF 15 PER CENT AND A NEW MINIMUM ALLOCATION STANDARD OF SEVEN SQUARE METRES WITH MRIR NOT EXCEEDING 18.5 PER CENT,

THE FOUND THAT THERE WERE DIVERSE VIEWS ON THE COMMITTEE THERE WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ON THE PROPOSAL SOME PEOPLE FEARED IT WAS A PRETEXT FOR RENT INCREASES.

PROPOSAL.

AND

THERE WAS HOWEVER CLEAR SUPPORT FOR HIGHER ALLOCATION STANDARDS.

"MANY RESPONDENTS HAVE ADVOCATED THAT THE MRIR SHOULD NOT BE RAISED DESPITE AN INCREASE IN ALLOCATION STANDARD, HE SAID.

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THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT ACTUAL SPACE ALLOCATION HAD SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEEDED THE MINIMUM STANDARD OF 5.5 SQUARE METRES.

/"IF THE

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