Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service
Description
The Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (Queensland) is a Queensland Government program administered by the Department of Housing.
It provides tenants and residents, particularly those experiencing difficulties with their tenancies or residential services, access to information, advocacy and advice regarding their rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act 1994 and/or the Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002. The program also aims to provide information and referral to help people in housing need access safe, secure and affordable housing.
The program is funded from the interest on tenants’ and residents’ bonds lodged with the Residential Tenancies Authority and by a contribution from the Department of Housing.
Funding is also provided to two specialist organisations: the Tenants’ Union of Queensland, which provides a statewide service including resourcing and training; and the Caravan and Manufactured Home Residents’ Association, which provides advice on matters specific to tenants in mobile dwellings.
Objectives
Through the provision of the above services, tenants and residents are able to establish and maintain their tenancies or residencies by:
- understanding their rights and responsibilities regarding tenancy and residential law and related legislation;
- exercising their rights under tenancy and residential law and related legislation;
- accessing trained advocates to assist with exercising their rights under tenancy and residential law and related legislation; and
- accessing assistance to appropriate referral to safe, secure and affordable accommodation.
Target groups
The service targets people who are tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act 1994 or residents under the Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002.
Eligibility
The following types of organisations are eligible to be considered for funding to provide services under the program:
- not-for-profit incorporated organisations;
- local governments;
- Aboriginal or Island Councils.
The Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (Queensland) has, however, reached its capacity and opportunities for new funding are limited.
Funding conditions
To receive funding or other assistance from the Department of Housing to provide a housing service, organisations must be:
- registered under the Housing Act 2003; and
- bound by the terms and conditions of the program specifications and the assistance agreement entered into with the Department of Housing.
A snapshot of the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service
Commenced
1991
Number of Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service services
28
Locations
Throughout the State
Further information
Community Housing
Department of Housing
GPO Box 690
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Telephone: (07) 3225 1253
Freecall: 1800 642 902
Facsimile: (07) 3227 8551
Email: 
community.housing@housing.qld.gov.au
Locations and contact details of services
There is a listing of Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services under ‘Tenant Advice’ in the White Pages. On the Internet, there are telephone numbers for the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services at the following addresses:
Last updated 07 July 2005
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