Public housing tenants have been left waiting months for urgent repairs, sometimes living with mould and leaking rooves, according to a new report from the ACT Ombudsman.
The report, Falling through the gaps: How Housing ACT manages tenant requests for repairs to their homes, examined complaints made between July 2024 and November 2025 and found delays in completing repairs, poor communication between Housing ACT, tenants and contractors, and cases where tenants were charged for work without warning.
Independent MLA Thomas Emerson said the report’s “damning” findings were unsurprising — public housing was the number one issue constituents raised with his office.
“How can we celebrate being the most progressive state or territory in the country while failing the most vulnerable members of our community on so many fronts?” Mr Emerson said.
“Most Canberrans would be shocked at the living conditions experienced by many public housing tenants in our community,” said Mr Emerson.
Read the article here: https://canberradaily.com.au/ombudsman-housing-act-failing-to-meet-obligations-as-landlord/