Housing Tasmania tenants, including former Housing Tenants, have been sent letters in relation to the changes in the payments process arising from the introduction of a new housing management system.
All recipients are being issued with new rent cards that allow them to either pay their current rent or any outstanding debts from a past tenancy.
These letters were also sent to former tenants.
In some cases the household circumstances have changed from when those people were tenants. Where that is the case, the recipients need to contact Housing Tasmania to have their details updated.
This type of communication is the same practice as undertaken in other Departments, and by previous Governments, to recoup monies owed.
The two individual letters raised by the Opposition today will be appropriately investigated.
Each year, Housing Tasmania writes off approximately $800,000 due to bad debts.
Letters help maintain the integrity of our housing databases and waitlists, ensuring we focus on those most in need.
This new system will also help us to reduce future debts so that this money can be used to develop more housing for those in need.