BHC is acutely aware of the impact the housing crisis is having on Queenslanders. We operate at the heart of this challenge, and our sole daily purpose is to increase the supply of safe and affordable homes for Queenslanders in need.
As an independent charity, BHC has always worked hand in hand with our Ordinary Shareholders, the Queensland Government and the Brisbane City Council, and we continue to do so.
We have reached out to request a meeting with the Minister and the Lord Mayor to better understand their concerns relating to the proposed sale of our School Street complex in Kelvin Grove, which is currently rented to private market tenants.
The facts of the matter are as follows:
- The sale of the School Street property will not remove one single social, affordable, or privately rented apartment from the market.
- The social and affordable housing tenants who once lived there were assisted to relocate to more accessible, appropriate homes five years ago.
- At the time, BHC replaced these 27 units with 30 brand new social and affordable homes in Lutwyche, maintaining the supply of such homes in the city’s north. There has been, and will be, no loss of social and affordable housing in the community.
- The lease agreements held by the current School Street tenants will remain in place despite any change of ownership, as is their right. It is BHC’s expectation that the market rentals at School Street will continue to operate as such under new ownership.
- BHC continues to own and operate 130 social and affordable homes across three complexes in Kelvin Grove Urban Village.
The proceeds from the sale of these 27 market-rented properties will be re-invested into the delivery of 110 new, purpose-built social and affordable homes in Brisbane. The first project is already underway and scheduled for completion in March 2023.
