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Chairman of the Board welcomes new Chief Executive Officer, Chris Bratchford

On behalf of the Argyle Board, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new Chief Executive Officer, Chris Bratchford.  His appointment comes at an exciting time for Argyle as we increase our number of properties to over 2,000 and expand into the Australian Capital Territory.

Originally a qualified lawyer who subsequently obtained qualifications in management, Chris has spent much of his career helping organisations, both nationally and internationally make the transition to sustainable, viable and relevant businesses.  His previous roles include executive positions with strategic, operational and financial responsibility in a variety of financial and professional services organisations. Chris’ skills in leading people and organisations through periods of change and transformation will be a significant asset to Argyle as we move into the next phase of our development. 

Chris commenced in November last year and in only a few months he has already brought his energy and leadership to the organisation with the implementation of a new strategic plan and organisational restructure.

These initiatives are designed to position Argyle for further growth while ensuring better social outcomes for all our tenants.  Chris believes, as does the Board, that along with providing housing where needed, Argyle has a responsibility for building strong, effective and sustainable communities.

Chris has dedicated significant time already to meeting some of our tenants, and he is looking forward to other opportunities to get to know many of you first hand. The Board looks forward to working with Chris in what will be an exciting and challenging future.

Argyle moves into the ACT

Argyle has now expanded into the ACT with the transfer of 53 units in Condor during March 2011.  The units which have been earmarked for ACT residents over the age of 55 years, will be managed by Argyle on behalf from the ACT Department of Housing and Community Services.

In a media statement, Ms Burch said Argyle had provided housing in NSW for more than 20 years, which would bring not only experience but also economies of scale as they entered the ACT social housing sector.

"Argyle has an established track record in quality tenancy and asset management spanning over twenty years, and their staff have worked with Housing ACT's Gateway Services to identify and support existing public housing tenants to relocate into this complex," Ms Burch said.

Renting Laws have changed

On 31 January 2011, new laws were introduced in NSW that provide important protection for tenants and landlords. Some of the key changes that will effect our tenants are listed below;

Tenants get more time to move out
If a tenant is no longer under a fixed term agreement and the landlord wants the tenant to move out ‘without grounds’, the notice period is now 90 days instead of 60 days. If notice is given by the land lord just before the end of the lease, the notice period is now 30 days instead of 14 days

Mechanism to save tenancies
If a tenant catches up on overdue rent, or follows a repayment plan agreed with the landlord, termination action will be cancelled. This will not apply if the tenant is shown to have frequently failed to pay their rent on time.

Alterations
A tenant will still need their landlord's written approval if they want to make a minor change to the premises, such as installing child safety locks on windows.

Water efficiency
Rented premises must be water efficient if tenants of separately metered premises are to pay for water usage.

Letterbox service of notices
There will be an additional option for serving notices – by hand delivery to a person's letterbox.

Additional grounds for eviction
Landlords will be able to apply to the Tribunal to end a tenancy if the tenant uses the premises for an illegal purpose or if they threaten, abuse, intimidate or harass the landlord or agent.

Breaking a lease early
Tenants will be able to end a fixed–term lease in certain situations, such as when they accept an offer of public housing or need to move to a nursing home.

Sale of rented premises
Selling agents must make reasonable efforts to agree with tenants on the days and times the premises will be available for inspection. Two inspection periods each week will be allowed, and the parties can negotiate if more access is required.

Domestic violence
Victims of domestic violence living in a rented property will have the right to change the locks and seek to take over the tenancy if their name is not already on the lease.

Argyle now manages over 2000 properties and counting

A significant milestone was reached in January 2011 when the number of houses under the management of Argyle reached over 2,000.  During 2010 we acquired a further 150 properties as a result of successfully tendering to the State and Federal Government.  With the rental income generated from these properties we are planning to build 30-35 dwellings in the Wagga - Albury area and 34 dwellings in Moss Vale and Tahmoor over the next five years.  We are also looking to purchase several sites in Wagga and Albury.

With both the State, Federal and ACT governments promoting the growth of community housing organisations, ACH’s development activities are expected to significantly increase the number of dwellings we manage over the next five years. This growth will allow us to provide more housing to those in need.  We are also going to refocus our initiatives aimed at providing better social outcomes for our tenants.