Mary Valley tenants get opportunity to buy

Published Thursday, 02 May, 2013 at 11:38 AM

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney

More than 300 tenants in government-owned housing in the Mary Valley are being offered the opportunity to buy their rental property.

The Newman Government today announced it was opening a Tenant Purchase Scheme (TPS).

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the scheme offers residents the opportunity to make their lifestyle in the valley more permanent.

“The scheme is open to tenants who have been living in the property for at least six months and who have fulfilled all their lease obligations,” Mr Seeney said.

“We’re asking 304 sitting tenants, if eligible, to register their interest in buying the property at market value as part of our commitment to return government-owned property to private ownership.

“These registrations will be assessed to ensure the tenant meets the criteria, and then an independent valuer will provide a market valuation of the property.

“Eligible tenants will have 45 days to consider the offer.

“If the tenant does not wish to buy the property, it will be scheduled for sale in the broader divestment of government-owned properties through open market sales or auction or it could be combined with other properties to create Economic Development Units.

“This means non-tenants will still have the opportunity to buy these properties in the Mary Valley.

“The Government’s Mary Valley Principal Agent Oliver Hume Real Estate Group is mailing documentation to all sitting tenants advising them of the scheme and, if eligible, asking for registrations of interest.”

The Chair of the Mary Valley Economic Advisory Group and Member for Gympie David Gibson said he expected a high level of interest in the tenant purchase scheme as many locals have been waiting for the opportunity to buy their current property at market value.

“I know from people contacting my office over the past year that there are many tenants who are keen to buy and this is the next step in bringing the Mary Valley back into private ownership,” Mr Gibson said.

The Tenant Purchase Scheme does not include properties that are leased for commercial or agistment purposes.

It is expected offers to proceed to purchase would be made to successful applicants from July onwards.

[ENDS] 2 May 2012

Media Contact: John Wiseman – 0409 791 281