Transferring and vacating

Transferring

If you make an application to transfer a Movable Unit to a new site, or obtain a second unit, within the twelve month occupancy period agreed to in the Hiring Agreement, the applicant or occupant must agree to pay the costs of transferring a unit to the new location. This cost is currently around $18,000.

We may sometimes agree to pay part or all of the cost of transferring the unit (or obtaining a second unit), after the occupant has lived in the first unit for between one and three years. We’ll only do this if the applicant or occupant can show evidence of exceptional circumstances leading to their request.

We agree to pay the cost of transferring the unit (or obtaining a second unit) after the occupant has held the unit at the first address for three or more years.  The unit transferred will not necessarily be the same one.

We will not pay the costs of transferring or obtaining a third unit. If you apply for a third unit, then the applicant or occupant must agree to pay the transfer or construction costs.

We also won’t transfer or provide a unit at a second or successive location, regardless of who is paying, unless any outstanding hire charges and costs have been paid.

Vacating your unit

When a Movable Unit is no longer required, the occupant needs to complete a Notice of Termination, available from your local housing office. You’ll also need to hand back the keys of the unit.

We will continue to charge the unit’s rent until you actually leave the unit and return the keys.

Final readings for gas and/or electricity are the applicant’s responsibility. You are required to ask your gas and electricity supplier for these as soon as you give notice to vacate.

If the occupant or applicant defaults on the Hiring Agreement (for example, by leaving the unit within the first twelve months) then the person responsible for the vacancy will be charged for the remaining twelve month period.

Example 1: If the occupant has to leave the unit because of an action taken by the applicant (such as the applicant selling the property), then the applicant will have to pay the twelve month hire charge.

If the occupant leaves the unit within the first twelve months of occupancy, then the occupant will have to pay the twelve month hire charge.

Example 2: If the occupant passes away within the first twelve months, the minimum hire period is waived and no one will have to pay it. If this happens, Notice of Termination together with a death certificate should be handed in to your local Housing Office.

If the occupant needs to leave the unit within the first twelve months of occupancy because they are hospitalised or placed in a similar institution for an extended period, the twelve month hire charge may be waived by your local housing office. You would need to show your local housing office written medical evidence proving that this is the case and exceptional circumstances exist in order to waive outstanding hire charges.

Unit removal

The time taken to remove a movable unit is in the order of three to four months from the date the Movable Units Branch receives advice from the area office that the unit is vacant.

It should be noted that procedures to remove the unit will not be initiated until the Notice of Termination has been completed, all belongings and rubbish have been removed, the unit has been vacated and the keys of the unit returned to the local Housing Office  and final reading for gas/electricity accounts have been finalised.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure access is available when the unit is to be removed. It is also the applicant's responsibility to remove and bear the cost of any structures/plantings that restrict access for the removal of the movable unit.