DHA housing solutions

Rent Allowance

In addition to its core business of supplying and managing housing for Defence members, DHA has been contracted by Defence to administer the payment of RA to Defence members who are accommodated in the private rental market. DHA is not responsible for assisting members to find private rental accommodation but becomes involved when members seek approval for the arrangements they have negotiated with agents and landlords.

In the normal course of events, administration of RA involves approving the commencement of a housing related allowance, conducting an annual review to confirm a continuing entitlement and administering the cessation of an approved arrangement. While this generally applies to the more stable tenancies entered by Members With Dependants, the  administration of RA for Members Without Dependants or Members With Dependants (Unaccompanied) can be more complex, often involving frequent changes to payment as member circumstances change; such as, because of deployment on operations, sharing arrangements and movement to or from Defence schools and courses.

Of particular note, single members receiving RA may apply for Defence approval for the recognition of a de facto relationship or notify a marriage. Consequently, they can be re- categorised as a Member With Dependants. This shift in categorisation may involve a cessation and commencement of RA, often without a change in accommodation. Currently one third of Members With Dependants receiving RA are from this source.

In 2012–13, DHA continued to focus on the improvement of RA administration including enhancements to RA Online, an online facility where members can apply for, and complete, annual reviews electronically. Member response has been positive and has helped DHA to reduce the time taken on this process.

In 2012–13, DHA administered the payment of RA to a monthly average of 3,372 Members With Dependants and an average of 11,100 singles.

Living In Accommodation

On 20 June 2013, Defence and DHA entered an agreement under which DHA will manage the booking and allocation of all Defence on-base LIA. Defence invited DHA to make a proposal for the function. DHA sought to leverage its existing capabilities and nation-wide presence to provide a significant improvement in the quality of the delivered service. Following negotiation of terms acceptable to both parties, an Addendum to the Services Agreement was finalised, effective until 30 June 2019 (initial term). The term of the Allocations and Tenancy Management agreement was extended to coincide with that of the LIA function.

DHA and singles

While DHA’s core business is housing Defence members with families, since 2006 it has provided about 100 apartments for single members posted to Darwin as an alternative to RA.  DHA entered a long-term agreement for this on 24 December 2008. The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel approved the extension of the agreement to Brisbane and Canberra on 10 April 2011 and approved a national roll out on 30 July 2012. With more than 11,000 single members housed in private rental accommodation, this is a strategic opportunity for DHA. At 30 June 2013, DHA’s off-base singles portfolio held 240 apartments. The Board has approved a plan to expand this to 1,200 apartments by 2015–16.

Other government agencies

A logical extension of DHA’s core Defence business is the provision of residential property management services to other Australian Government agencies, especially in remote areas of northern and western Australia (where several agencies can be operating from the same location). Thursday Island in the Torres Strait Islands is an example. In 2012–13, these agencies included the Department of Agriculture and AMSA. While small by comparison with the Defence business, the cost-effective provision of services to these Federal agencies is a demonstration of DHA’s relevance in the wider Government market place. While DHA no longer provides residential property management services to Customs, it leases a small number of properties to the new provider of these services.