We provide secure, affordable housing to over 1,200 tenants across the Cairns and Far North Queensland region. We’re passionate about our role in the community and are committed to fulfilling the obligations and requirements of our Client Service Charter.
If you cannot see what you are looking for here, then don’t hesitate to contact us in the office on (07) 4031 6702 or admin@achc.org.au
When? 8 February 2024 from 10:30am
Where? Access Community Housing Company Office, Manunda
For more details, download the February TAG Meeting flyer here.
What is TAG?
TAG is a forum for tenants to provide constructive feedback and discuss improvements.
TAG members enjoy being involved in a wide range of services and activities such as:
For more information or to become a member contact us or download the TAG Fact Sheet here.
Everyone should have a safe and comfortable living space. Our commitment to tenants’ satisfaction starts with the Minimum Housing Standards, ensuring the homes we manage meet essential criteria for tenant’s peace of mind.
To find out more information about the Minimum Housing Standards for current and new tenancies, download this flyer here.
The following links provide important information for keeping safe in cyclone season and getting prepared.
Cairns Regional Council – Household Emergency Plan
Cairns Regional Council – Household Emergency Kit
Queensland Government – Get Ready Queensland
At the beginning of your tenancy, Access Community Housing will give you a tenant reference number. Please quote this number when making any tenancy-related payment. Payments can be made in the following ways.
Weekly or fortnightly rent must be paid on time. If you receive a Centrelink payment, the most convenient way to pay is using Centrepay – please talk to your Housing Manager for details. Please note that cash is not accepted at the office. Cash payments must be made at the bank.
It is an eligibility requirement that all tenants complete an annual rent review. All general income is considered assessable when calculating your rent including Centrelink payments, allowances and wages.
If you require any maintenance on your home, please advise your Housing Officer during office hours. The office can be contacted on (07) 4031 6702 or email admin@achc.org.au
For properties in the CRS program, most maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner, so your Property Officer will pass the request to the owner for them to arrange for the repair.
All repairs and maintenance, including any damage, must be reported to our office in writing as soon as possible.
If you have an emergency plumbing or electrical problem, or if you have a broken window or damaged door that has made your property unsecure outside officer hours, please call 1300 782 586. Please ensure you have this number and ONLY use if you have a problem that is dangerous, a threat to your health or may cause substantial property damage. When you call 1300 782 586 you can select option 1 for an electrician, option 2 for a plumber or option 3 if you have a broken window or damaged door that has made your property unsecure. If you have locked yourself out of your property outside of office hours, please contact a local locksmith.
We ask you to take care of your home by following these tips:
Please do not install improvements/renovate your home without our approval
If you have an emergency plumbing or electrical problem outside of office hours please call 1300 782 586. This number is to ONLY be used in the event of an emergency repair. If you are experiencing an emergency repair situation during office hours, please call our office immediately on (07) 4031 6702.
When you call the 1300 782 586 you can select option 1 for an electrician, option 2 for a plumber or option 3 if you have a broken window or damaged door that has made your property unsecure. If you have locked yourself out of your property outside of office hours, please contact a local locksmith.
As with the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy public housing, as the tenant, you are responsible for paying the full costs of repairing any damage caused by you, a household member or a visitor you allowed onto the property. For example, you would be required to pay for the repairs if a window was broken while children were playing in your yard or you were mowing the lawn.
You can either arrange the repairs yourself or contact us and we will arrange for the repairs and apply a debt to your account. If you arrange the repairs yourself, they must be completed to an acceptable standard. If we arrange for the repair of property damage, you will be sent an invoice for the repair and will need to make payment.
Deliberate or reckless damage to a property by a tenant, a member of your household or a visitor you allowed onto the property is not acceptable. We will take action to end tenancies for deliberate or reckless property damage.
For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Access Community Housing Company today on phone (07) 4031 6702.
Access Community Housing Company operates under a strict Client Service Charter. In conjunction with this our tenants have a right to: be treated fairly and with respect; not be discriminated against; be provided with accurate advice and information; have their privacy respected and their information kept confidential; have information and services provided in a prompt, courteous and efficient manner; be provided with all information and resources necessary to fulfil their obligations to ACHC as a tenant.
If you have any queries or would like more information in regards to your rights and responsibilities as an ACHC tenant, please contact the office or your Housing Manager.
Access Community Housing Company is the landlord for all current tenants. We expect our tenants to live in their premises in a way that is respectful to the property, its neighbours and the community. In conjunction with this, we expect tenants to be responsible for the property and the actions of any household member or visitor to the property. ACHC will work with you to assist in the resolution of any neighbour disputes. Please talk to your Housing Manager for more information in regards to this.
As a current tenant of ACHC you need to keep us informed of any change of circumstances which may impact on your community housing arrangement. This includes, but is not limited to change in income or the number of people living at the property. Advice of change of circumstances must be provided to ACHC within 28 days of it taking place. Failure to do so could be breaching your tenant requirements. Change of circumstances information can be provided to your Housing Manager or direct to ACHC on phone (07) 4031 6702 or admin@achc.org.au
Access Community Housing Company Ltd respects your privacy and recognises that privacy is very important. We are committed to protecting your personal information, and will ensure that we collect and store your details in a manner that is compliant with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.
The personal information we collect about you may include your name, address, phone number, income details, next of kin and other housing related information to help us identify your needs and assist you in maintaining a successful tenancy. Generally, we collect and store this information for the purpose of our internal use to help us identify any legal requirements, identification and the assessment of the services that you may require. We may disclose personal information about you to another service to assist us in meeting your tenancy needs.
By providing us with your personal and sensitive information (or by authorising another service provider to disclose this to us), you consent your information being handled by us as stated in our Privacy Policy
The Consent to Collect Information Form will remain valid during your tenancy with our service or unless otherwise stated by you. It is not required to be updated annually unless you advise us of a change in your details.
View our Complaints Management Policy and the associated Client Complaints Resolution Procedure documents.
Contact information and links for the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy (DCHDE) and for the Queensland Ombudsman can be found on our Resources page.
The information provided on this page has been sourced from the Queensland Government Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy (DCHDE) and from QShelter.
Looking after yourself by eating a healthy, balanced diet, getting regular physical activity, sleeping well and reducing stress is important all the time.
Effective cleaning in the household is important for reducing the risk of transmission of many germs. The aim of environmental cleaning is to minimise the number of germs that survive on surfaces. This fact sheet provides general information about routine household cleaning only. More specific advice may be required for communal or outbreak settings.
Some germs can survive in the environment, especially on frequently touched surfaces such as bench tops, door handles and toys. The length of time a germ can survive on a surface depends on the germ itself, the type of surface it has contaminated and how often the surface is cleaned. Reducing the number of germs in the environment can break the chain of infection.
Start the cleaning process in the cleanest areas and finish in the dirtier areas (also see cleaning equipment section). This method helps prevent cross-infection because it decreases the risk of contaminating a clean room with germs from a dirty room. Wear either single-use or reusable gloves (such as washing-up gloves) when cleaning. If using reusable gloves wash them off using running water and detergent, and hang them outside to dry. Wash your hands after you have finished cleaning and removed the gloves.
Routine mechanical (rubbing) cleaning with detergent and water (use as per the label instructions), followed by rinsing and drying is the most useful method for removing germs from surfaces. A clean cloth (disposable or able to be laundered) should be used each time. Detergents help to loosen the germs so that they can be rinsed away with clean water and then allowing the surface to dry, makes it harder for germs to survive or grow.
Good cleaning equipment includes mops with detachable heads (so they can be washed in a washing machine using hot water), disposable cloths or cloths that can be laundered, and vacuum cleaners preferably fitted with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters to reduce dust being dispersed. Ensure that cleaning equipment is well maintained, cleaned and appropriately stored.
Different cloths should be used for cleaning different areas, e.g. kitchen, bathroom, toilet. It can be useful to have colour-coded cloths or sponges for each area (e.g. blue in the bathroom, yellow in the kitchen) so that it is easier to keep them separate.
Disinfectants are usually only necessary if a surface has been contaminated with potentially infectious material. Most germs do not survive for long on clean surfaces when exposed to air and light. Routine cleaning with detergent and water should be enough to reduce germ numbers.
If you do need to use a disinfectant, the disinfectant will not kill germs if the surface has not been cleaned first. Clean surfaces using the advice in the Washing germs away section.
To kill germs, any disinfectant must:
Clean all frequently touched surfaces at least weekly. If anyone in the household is sick, cleaning should be done more often, at least daily. This includes items such as kitchen benches, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and bedside tables. Surfaces should be visibly clean.
Wash linen regularly in detergent and hot water. Do not carry used linen against your own clothing, take it to the laundry in a basket, bag or similar.
If you are concerned visit your GP or contact 13HEALTH
More information is available at health.qld.gov.au/coronavirus.
© Access Community Housing Company 2023