Teacher accommodation: frequently asked questions

My hot water system isn’t working. How long should I wait for it to be fixed?

Teacher accommodation owned by the state government is maintained by Building and Asset Services (BAS), which has a service agreement with both the Department of Education and Training (DET) and the Department of Housing and Public Works (DH&PW) that states that certain work will be completed within specific timelines. Emergency matters, e.g. loss of electricity or gas, should be attended to within 24 hours. The QTU believes lack of hot water also fits into this category, because the next category has a timeline of up to 14 days, which is not acceptable for the loss of hot water.

What should I do if an unplanned maintenance job is not going to be completed within the specified response time?

Contact the local accommodation officer (LAO) and request that the matter is pursued with BAS directly or with the regional facilities team.

If that does not work, contact the QTU or your QTU Organiser, who will escalate the matter with the appropriate DET or BAS officer.

I have moved to a mining town because of my partner’s work and will be seeking employment as a teacher with DET. If I get a job, will I be eligible for teacher accommodation at subsidised rental rates?

The department’s Employee Housing Guidelines state that to be eligible to occupy government housing at subsidised rental rates, the following criteria must be met:

• you must be a departmental employee
• you must have been transferred or appointed into the centre from outside the centre
• you must not own a private dwelling within 50 kms by road of the centre at any time during the period of employment at the centre.

Based on the information provided, the department would not grant eligibility on the basis that you do not meet the second criterion, i.e. you have not been transferred or appointed into the centre. To be eligible, you would need to remain living in another location until you received an offer of employment before moving to the mining town. We would also suggest you obtain written confirmation of your eligibility for housing at subsidised rental rates prior to accepting the employment offer.

I have a medical condition that requires me to be sole tenant. When I move to a centre with teacher accommodation, does the department have to allocate me a unit of accommodation without other tenants?

The department’s Employee Housing Guidelines do not address this situation, but there are many cases where the outcome you are seeking has been achieved. You should provide the relevant medical evidence to the department and the local accommodation committee and request sole occupancy of a duplex or house. This outcome cannot be guaranteed, but may be possible in some centres.

I am transferring out of a centre and vacating departmental accommodation. The LAO has asked for a copy of the carpet cleaning receipt. Do I have to provide it?

The department’s Employee Housing Guidelines outline the special terms of the tenancy agreement. One of these special terms states that carpets are to be professionally cleaned annually and on cessation of the tenancy. It also states that a receipt may be requested as proof that the cleaning has been undertaken. If you have had the cleaning done, ask the cleaner to provide you with a receipt and provide it to the LAO.

If you have any questions about teacher accommodation, please contact the QTU by telephone on 1300 11 7823 or by email qtu@qtu.asn.au

Jeff Backen
Assistant Secretary - Services/Welfare, and                                                           Secretary, QTU State Accommodation Committee

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 120 No 5, 17 July 2015, p24