Housing All Australians co-founder and Director, Robert Pradolin, has been quoted in The Guardian.
While developers would typically redevelop an office for higher-end residential tenants, providing more low-cost options would require government support, according to Robert Pradolin, the founder and director of Housing All Australians, a private sector group that advocates for affordable accommodation.
“It’s a bit of a furphy to say we can just develop these office buildings into social housing because the highest and best use is probably a commercial apartment or boutique office,” Pradolin said.
“It requires government involvement because social housing is not a market product that gets the return for the building owner.”
He said local and state governments would need to actively support office conversions through fast-track approvals, in public-private deals that could include setting aside a portion of the new apartments for subsidised rents.
“Developers will deliver affordable housing but they are not a charity.”