March 1999 Volume 80 Number 3 "serving the protectors"
President's Message

Police Rents

Police rents is an important issue for all members - even if they don't reside in departmental housing. The Police Association has finalised negotiations with the government on this issue. Details of the agreement are:

1. A five-year housing rental agreement will operate from the commencement of the 1998 Enterprise Agreement.
2. Implementation of this rental agreement will be deferred until December 1999 for all current police tenants (including those selected for a position where housing is to be provided at or before the time of commencement of this agreement).
3. Rents will be reviewed annually using the market-based appraisal system developed by the Valuer-General determination of public housing rents. The system will include:
   • A basic minimum rent.
   • A value on rent based on the number of bedrooms.
   • A rent based on a percentage of the capital value of the property (as determined annually through the Valuer-General).
4. The annual rent review will occur on 31 August each year (after 1999) with new rents applying to all new tenants from that date, and to all existing tenants from the first full pay period after 1 November.
5. A maximum increase or decrease of $5.00 per week will apply to all police tenants for each annual rent review.
6. The following concessions will be fixed for the period of that agreement:
   • 50% on the market rate for separately titled housing (non-depot).
   • 60% on the market rate for housing on depot land, including housing attached to police stations.
7. From the commencement of this agreement, all police employees transferring from an area where police housing is not provided to an area where police housing is provided (excluding those selected for a position before the time of commencement of this agreement), will immediately pay the full concessional market rental as detailed in (6). They shall also be subject to the annual rent review process (4) and a maximum increase and decrease criteria set out in (5).
8. Police officers transferring from a country location to another will be subject to the maximum rental increase/decrease as detailed in (5).
9. Furniture rental charges will be the subject of separate review and will remain as follows until the review is completed:
   • Full furniture kit $16.00 per week.
   • White goods only kit $8.00 per week.

The furniture rental charges are added to the concessional market rate in order to calculate the appropriate house rental.

Members seeking clarification on any aspect of the agreement should contact the Police Association.

Peter Alexander    President