Prosper Australia has prepared this policy brief to present a solution as to how state governments can provide relief and certainty to businesses, while allowing landlords to participate in economic resilience measures.

Australia’s social housing system is under considerable pressure, with high demand, but manifestly inadequate supply. In this context, governments have introduced ‘pathways’ frameworks to promote movement through the social housing system. This report explores tenants’ experiences and perspectives on these social housing pathways.

The Northern Territory government is reviewing the Residential Tenancies Act 1999 to ensure that Territorians have more clarity around interactions between tenants and landlords. The Act has been operating for more than 18 years and no longer adequately reflects the shift in residential rental trends which include people renting for longer periods of time.

This summary report suggests that in 2018, most tenants in social housing were satisfied with services from their housing provider. Nearly all tenants cited feeling more settled and being able to manage their rent better as benefits of living in social housing.

This report examines the role of policy in shaping social housing pathways through a review of current social housing operational policies. It considers application processes, eligibility criteria, rent, use of premises, tenant-initiated transfers, portfolio management and tenancy management by landlords.