Eligibility and application

Movable units are available for rent by permanent residents of Australia, who have assets less than $30,000 and are either:

• over the age of 55 and whose weekly income is less than the current income limit for public housing in Victoria and/or
• in receipt of at least $1.00 of an Australian Disability Support Pension and whose weekly income is less than the current income limit for public housing in Victoria

Income and asset limits (as at March 2009)

Movable units are not designed  to be family housing and children are not permitted to reside in the units.

Movable units are not allocated to organisations for the purpose of group housing.

Applying for a Movable Unit

Application forms are available from your local Housing Office or by calling 1300 655 049.

The person who applies for the Movable Unit must be the owner or tenant of the main house. They are known as the unit’s applicant.  This person must promise to provide access to the occupant of the Movable Unit for a minimum period of twelve months.  You can still apply if you are renting – you must include written consent from the landowner.

You need to provide the following information with your application:

• A current copy of certificate of title showing who the property owner is, the plan of sub-division and any covenants affecting the construction on the property. If you bought the property recently, and your name is not yet on the title, you will also need to send a copy of the contract of sale. (If you are a Public Housing tenant you do not need to provide a certificate of title.)
• A copy of the site sewerage plan. You can get this from your local water authority. If the property is on a septic system, you need to get advice in writing from the local council health inspector indicating whether or not it is possible to connect a Movable Unit to the existing system. If the septic system needs upgrading or if a new system is required, you need to write a letter stating that the applicant or occupant will bear all the costs involved. (If you are a Public Housing tenant you do not need to provide the site sewerage plan.)
• An income statement from Centrelink, Department of Veteran Affairs, or your employer, confirming the proposed occupant's income. If the proposed occupant(s) is employed, a record of their previous 13 weeks’ wages is required.

Hiring agreement

Once the application has been approved, three copies of the Hiring Agreement are forwarded for the applicant and occupant's signature. All three signed copies are to be returned. Once the hiring agreement is fully signed off by the Department of Human Services, a copy will be returned to the applicant to retain for their records.

The Hiring Agreement sets out the responsibilities and obligations of the applicant, occupant and the Department of Human Services, Office of Housing.  All three parties must enter into the agreement.

By signing the Hiring Agreement, the intended occupant of the unit promises to pay the agreed weekly or fortnightly hire charge for at least 12 months.  You both need to sign this agreement before a Movable Unit is constructed on your property.

Site inspection

A contractor will contact you to arrange a site inspection and discuss where to construct the unit. A site plan will be prepared by the contractor showing the proposed location of the unit. This site plan will then be sent to you for the applicant’s signature.

The contractor will apply for council permits required to place a Movable Unit on your property.

If you have had a previous application for a Movable Unit cancelled or deferred within the last twelve months, we will not approve a new application for a Movable Unit, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

If you sign a Hiring Agreement but then cancel or defer before the unit is installed, you may have to pay the whole twelve month hire charge, or any outstanding costs incurred by our contractor.

Unit Completion

When the unit is completed for occupancy the Movable Units Project Manager will then inspect the unit and issue the intended occupant with a Notice of Tenancy Commencement and the keys to the unit.

Applicant/s or occupant/s must not shift personal belongings or move into the unit until the Movable Unit Project Manager inspected the unit and the Notice of Tenancy Commencement has been signed off by either the occupant or applicant.

If you are the occupant, you need to contact your local Housing Office to arrange your regular rent payments.

Rent will be due from the tenancy commencement date shown on the Notice of Tenancy Commencement form.