Scott Giuffrida faced the prospect of homelessness after being informed he would be evicted from his transitional housing due to the landlord's failure to maintain the apartment. Community housing provider Home in Place initially indicated there were "no guarantees" of finding him another home before the eviction date of October 31. Giuffrida is among six tenants being evicted from the Morningside apartment, which Home in Place leases from a private landlord.

Emma O'Hara, chief operating officer of Home in Place, stated that the apartment required "significant maintenance work" that the landlord was unwilling to undertake. "While we have previously raised a number of maintenance issues with the owner, not all have been addressed in a timely way," O'Hara said. She added that the landlord's representative preferred to regain possession of the property rather than proceed with necessary repairs.

The apartment has been reported to have serious issues, including a dangling railing over an eroded stairwell and mouldy, deteriorating concrete due to a leaky roof. Giuffrida, who has lived in the transitional housing unit since 2020 while waiting for permanent social housing, expressed frustration over the lack of action on his repair requests. He noted that he spent two years trying to get a broken stove replaced, only to find that the replacement was also non-compliant.

"I thought coming to government-subsidized community housing that it would be all above board, but it's just been horrendous," Giuffrida said. He criticized the arrangement, stating, "This landlord should not be given a subsidy to provide this lack of service."

The Department of Housing has stated it will assist in finding alternative accommodation for the other five tenants facing eviction. A spokesperson for the department explained that Home in Place rented the six units under a state-funded Community Rent Scheme and that the department was not involved in the legal arrangements. However, they are working with Home in Place to support the tenants in need of housing assistance.

Penny Carr, chief executive of Tenants Queensland, highlighted the challenges tenants face in enforcing their legal rights, particularly in social housing situations. "We find there are many people who are living in properties that are not fit to live in, but generally the tenants don't enforce their rights," Carr said. She emphasized that the current model, which relies on tenants to advocate for their rights, often fails them.

As Giuffrida prepares to move into a shared house in the private market, the other tenants continue to await offers for alternative housing. The situation underscores ongoing concerns about the responsibilities of landlords in maintaining rental properties, especially those receiving government subsidies.