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Section 4 - Spot Purchase, Rebuilding and Sales Program

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4.1 Spot Purchase Program

The Board Member of each region must be contacted by Property Branch, Department of Human Services to inspect housing stock deemed suitable for purchase, and only following Board Member agreement will housing be accepted for the Victorian Aboriginal Rental Program.

When suitable properties are referred to the Board Member, the Board Member to be advised by Property Branch, Department of Human Services about any existing Victorian Aboriginal Rental Housing Program properties or general housing properties in close proximity to the referred property. If the property is in close proximity to existing Aboriginal Rental Housing Program properties or general housing properties the Board Member to assess whether the purchase is to proceed. This assessment to be based on a report received from Aboriginal Housing Services Unit, DHS who are to provide a history, makeup and other relevant advice about the referred property and including whether the property is suitable for the Aboriginal Rental Housing Program.

Board Members are expected to ensure that suitable properties are accepted to the Aboriginal Rental Housing Program and that such properties meet the needs of applicants. Properties not suitable for the program include weatherboard/conite houses, houses more than 15 year old, two storey properties, houses with two kitchens, houses located in small courts, houses that require more than $10,000 upgrading, ex-DHS properties.

Housing stock will be upgraded to the standard as set by the Aboriginal Housing Board. A report detailing all proposed upgrading maintenance requirements and their estimated costs to be provided to the Board Member by Property Branch, Department of Human Services prior to the final acceptance of a housing stock property for the Victorian Aboriginal Rental Housing Program.

Non Standard refers to fittings and fixtures that are not provided to properties. However, where spot purchase properties include non standard item(s) that the Board Member wishes to retain in the property an agreement (attachment 10) to be made with the prospective tenant for such item(s) to be donated to the prospective tenant. Any non standard item(s) donated to the prospective tenant become the property of the prospective tenant and as such will not be repaired or replaced with Aboriginal Housing program funds.

Any Aboriginal person or organisation may refer a property for sale by contacting the Board Member. The Board Member can at any time refer for sale properties to Property Branch, Department of Human Services but must not approach Estate Agents or house sellers

The aim is to provide suitable housing at the most suitable cost. The ceiling price (as set from time to time) acts as a guide only and the Department of Human Services must take account of Aboriginal Housing Board view on what is an appropriate ceiling price in each locality. However, it is also accepted that the purchase price paid for housing stock properties is subject to Valuer General's Valuations.

4.2 Handovers

4.3 Land Purchase

4.4 Land Sale

• only to tenants who meet the Aboriginal Housing Board Sale of Property to Tenants conditions as contained in this section
• when the property is surplus to requirements
• if the property is found to be located in a dangerous and/or unsuitable location due to changed surroundings. Properties in hard to purchase locations are to be considered for demolition and the land retained unless in a dangerous location
• if it is accepted that no family will live in the property.
• in accordance with the Boards agreed stock management plan and guidelines

If the property is occupied the tenants are to be transferred to alternative accommodation under the Boards transfer policy. Only urgent and essential works are to be carried out on the property.

The Board can negotiate an exchange for the property with the Department of Human Services as an alternative to selling.

The procedure for sale of properties as follows:

• Board Member to seek approval at the Board meeting
• Following approval, Aboriginal Housing Services Unit, DHS to forward memo to Property Branch, DHS advising intention to sell and requesting that the property be listed on the disposal database
• Aboriginal Housing Services Officer to arrange the transfer of the tenants if property is occupied
• Aboriginal Housing Services Officer to promptly advise Aboriginal Housing Services Unit, DHS, in writing, when the property is vacant
• Aboriginal Housing Services Unit, DHS to ensure that the sale of the property proceeds within three months of being vacant
• Aboriginal Housing Services Unit, DHS to ensure that the proceeds from the sale of the property is allocated to the Aboriginal Housing Revolving Fund account.

4.5 Construction of New Dwellings

Properties with severe fire damage will automatically be demolished.

When the Aboriginal Housing Program requirements are drawn up for each region at the end of each financial year, the Board member is responsible for including any rebuilding of new dwellings in their region 's program.

4.6 Designs

When the contract for rebuilding is advertised, tenders received from Aboriginal managed and controlled Construction Companies will be given preference provided their prices, workmanship and all other factors are competitive.

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