Deliberately lit fires at Housing Tasmania buildings have cost almost $15 million in five years - $8000 a day on average.

Five years ago, almost $6 million in damage was done to Housing Tasmania properties in 54 arson attacks.

Those attacks peaked in 2012-13 with 81 incidents, which caused $3.12 million damage.

The amount of damage and number of attacks have reduced for the year to date - 21 cases responsible for a $1.06 million bill - and looks set to be the lowest in several years.

The group responsible for managing Housing Tasmania properties has introduced several strategies to curb arson attacks.

Such measures include smoke detectors, flame retardant paint in some properties and remotely monitored security devices in vacant homes.

As a community, we have an obligation to provide public housing for people in need.

But that responsibility does not confer the right for tenants to treat taxpayers with contempt.

People caught and convicted of setting fire to public housing should face the full impact of the law and pay back the damage they have caused.

If they are beneficiaries of public housing themselves, Housing Tasmania is within its rights to boot them out and never allow them access again.

Setting fire to public housing is a selfish crime because it impacts those people who are genuinely deserving of public housing in several ways.

The most obvious is depriving people on waiting lists with a home to go to, but it also tars all public housing tenants with the same deadbeat brush, which is unfair.

There would, of course, be many who treat their homes with respect, keep up the property's appearance and feel genuine pride in having a place to call home.

They, and the taxpaying public, are let down by the actions of a handful of idiots.