article: They are the homes provided  to give those less fortunate members of our society a roof over their heads. But with the cost of maintenance and repairs to damaged public housing nearing $13 million a year in NSW alone, the State Government has had enough and is planning to make tenants pay a bond before they move in. Communities Minister Brad Hazzard said it was a 'very likely possibility' the plan would be implemented in the near future. 'The critical argument for it is that at the moment the maintenance costs, including damage from poor tenancy, are in the order of approximately $12-13 million per year,' Mr Hazzard told Daily Mail Australia. A picture from the NSW Department of Family and Community Services shows damage to public housing . Public housing tenants will  pay a bond under a NSW government plan to recoup losses from trashed properties . The state's new Community Services Minister Brad Hazzard said the annual bill for repairs and maintenance on taxpayer-funded housing had hit $12 million . Mr Hazzard added that he was unsure as to why public housing tenants have never been made to pay a bond similar to that paid by private renters . 'I'd like to see at least a reasonable portion of that money saved and put into more public housing. We have very long public housing tenancy waiting lists.' Mr Hazzard, who took over the portfolio after the March election, said he was alerted to the fact public housing tenants don't pay a bond when consulting with workers in the field. He added that introducing a bond was not a new idea or 'rocket science'. 'My job is to make sure I use taxpayers money very wisely and maximise the opportunities for public housing for other people that wait years,' Mr Hazzard said. The Minister said it would most likely be a one month bond, paid off over six months to a year. He said it would be possible to make exceptions in certain circumstance – for example women escaping domestic violence. Mr Hazzard added public housing tenants were already liable for damage but 'they don't have the money'. Pictured is a trashed public housing property in Hornsby, in the northern suburbs of Sydney . Mr Hazzard, who took over the portfolio after the March election, said he was alerted to the issue when consulting with workers in the field . Damage can also be seen to the garage door, and the backyard is piled up with junk . 'Generally it's very hard to retrospectively try to get money from tenants when they've moved out,' he said. 'This is about sending a forward message, a very clear and upfront message, that you will be responsible for the damage.' Ned Cutcher, policy officer at the NSW Tenants' Union, said public housing tenants were already liable if they caused damage to properties. 'Tenants are always liable for the damage they cause, the question of the bond is really just about making sure there's a little bit of money there so landlords can have ready access to money,' Mr Cutcher said. 'I don't think the government should be looking at that in the same way as private landlord, who might struggle to cover costs. 'The government landlord isn't going to find themselves in a situation where they're going to be short of cash.' Mr Cutcher added that damage was often unfairly attributed to tenants. Green mouldy bread and stacks of filthy dishes seen piling up in the kitchen that hasn't been cleaned . Mr Hazzard said the bond would be able to be paid in instalments. 'They may not have the money to pay it in one hit, that's understandable,' he said . 'Some of those photos indicate something else is going on, properties are being vandalised it's not just people not looking after their properties,' he said. 'Tenants are usually very happy to have a social housing property, something they can afford, and it sure beats homelessness so they'll look after it on the whole. 'Problems occur when properties are left vacant for too long, and that's not an issue that can be solved by hitting tenants up for more money.' Mr Cutcher added: 'Households who are entering social housing tenancy are facing a number of challenges, and one of those challenges is necessarily a financial one. 'And to place an additional financial burden on people under those circumstances should be a difficult decision for a minister to make.' Ned Cutcher, policy officer at the NSW Tenants' Union, said public housing tenants were already liable if they caused damage to properties . Mr Cutcher added that damage was often unfairly attributed to tenants, when houses were sometimes vandalised or left vacant for long periods of time . 'Some of those photos indicate something else is going on, properties are being vandalised it's not just people not looking after their properties,' he said .
highlights: Public housing tenants will  pay a bond under a NSW government plan .
  Community Services Minister Brad Hazzard said the annual bill for repairs and maintenance on taxpayer-funded housing had hit $12 million .
  Mr Hazzard said  the bond would be able to be paid in instalments .
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