THERE are 356 new social housing properties scheduled for construction over the next 12 to 18 months.

But only 285 social housing properties have been built in the region over the past five years.

According to information tabled in the Legislation Council last week at the request of Murchison independent MLC Ruth Forrest, 79 of the new properties are to be built in Circular Head and 71 in the Waratah-Wynyard council area.

There will be 65 social housing properties built in Burnie, 62 on the Central Coast, and 41 in Devonport.

There have been 62 new housing dwellings completed in the North West over the past 12 months, with 25 of the properties based in East Devonport.

There have been 285 new social housing dwellings built in the North-West over the past five years.

The highest number of these properties were built in Devonport (77), East Devonport (33), Somerset (58) and Latrobe (41).

As of July, there were 4419 applications for public or social housing.

Between June and July, the waiting time for a property increased by more than 22 weeks to an average time of almost 90 weeks - or close to two years.

The rolling average for the year was 70 weeks.

There are 13,870 Tasmanian households in public or social housing.

Eighty-per-cent of the public and social housing properties allocated in July were to priority applicants.

Meanwhile, the Tenants Union of Tasmania analysis on rent over the June quarter shows median rent statewide had risen by 10 per cent.

The highest rise was in Northern Tasmania where rent went up by 12.1 per cent on average over the three months.

The analysis showed rent was up to $465 in inner Launceston, up $45 over the past 12 months, and up to $440 in outer Launceston, up $60 per cent over 12 months.

In Devonport, rent had increased by $30 a week to $370.

There was the same increase in Burnie where rent on average is $360 a week.

Labor's housing spokeswoman Ella Haddad said the data revealed the affordability crisis that had engulfed the state's rental market.

"Tasmanians in regional areas are among the worst affected, with the West Coast, Central Coast and NorthEast regions seeing some of the largest annual increases," she said.

According to the union's analysis, rent in the NorthEast had increased by $68 per week on average over a 12-month period - the largest increase in the state.

The Advocate, Monday 29 August 2022