Social housing eligibility and applications

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Applying for social housing in Australia

Social housing provides long-term rental homes for people on low incomes who cannot secure stable housing in the private market. Eligibility and application processes are managed by state and territory housing authorities and vary depending on where you live.

Eligibility for social housing

Eligibility for social housing is assessed by state and territory housing authorities. While requirements differ slightly by location, applicants generally need to:

be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
apply in the state or territory where they currently live
meet household income and asset limits
demonstrate a genuine housing need, such as homelessness, unsafe or overcrowded housing, or unaffordable rent
be able to sustain a tenancy, with support if required

Eligibility criteria, documentation requirements and assessment processes vary between states. You should always check the specific requirements for your location before applying.

How to apply for social housing

Applications for social housing are submitted through state and territory housing authorities, not directly to Home in Place.

In most cases, the process involves:

checking eligibility requirements for your state or territory
gathering supporting documents such as identification, income details and evidence of housing need
submitting an application through the relevant housing authority
waiting for assessment and placement on a housing register or waiting list

Applicants with urgent housing needs may be prioritised, depending on state guidelines.

Apply in your state or territory

New South Wales

In New South Wales (NSW), Home in Place participates in Housing Pathways, a shared access system used by public and community housing providers together, to assess clients for housing assistance and to make offers of housing.

This shared system avoids the duplication of separate waiting lists, and makes it easier, simpler and fairer to apply for housing.

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The general eligibility criteria for social housing in NSW include:
1. You must be 18 years of age
2. You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia
3. You must be a current resident of NSW
4. You need to meet the gross income threshold based on your household.
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice Social Housing Eligibility and Allocations Policy Supplement provides information on how social housing is delivered and who is eligible for assistance.
There are several ways you can apply for social housing in NSW:
- Online via the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) Housing pathways website HERE
- In person via your nearest housing provider.
- Using the NSW Government’s MyHousing app. You can download the MyHousing app to your smart phone from the Apple App Store on Google Play.
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice has a filterable, interactive dashboard which provides general housing applicants, information on how long they may need to wait for a social housing property in areas across NSW HERE.

You can filter by Allocation Zone – if you know it – or by suburb.

Queensland

Eligibility for transitional and long-term community housing is determined by Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works.
The department is responsible for ensuring Community Housing is provided to tenants with the greatest need.

You can check your eligibility on the Queensland Government website HERE.

If you are offered long-term community housing, Home in Place will need to assess your ongoing eligibility each year.

This assessment is based on ongoing eligibility criteria, which means we review:

Your household income: The combined gross income of your household (including spouses and other occupants) must not exceed $80,000 per annum;
Property ownership: No member of your household can own or partly own a property within Australia or overseas;
Your match to the property: Whether your housing is unsuitable to your current need (such as under-occupancy), which can lead to transfer to more appropriate accommodation; and
Antisocial behaviour: Whether there has been frequent and persistent antisocial behaviour (tenants are responsible for the behaviour of all occupants and guests).

If you are no longer eligible for ongoing long-term community housing, we will assist you with transitioning to the private rental market.

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As a community housing provider, Home in Place does not assess your application for housing assistance in Queensland.

You will need to contact your local Department of Housing and Public Works Housing Service Centre to arrange an interview to discuss your eligibility and housing needs.

A list of the Housing Service centres can be found HERE.

For more information, go to the Applying for Public Housing section on the Queensland Government HERE.
If you are eligible for social housing in Queensland, your application is placed on the Housing Register.

Social housing properties are in demand and are offered to people with the highest need.

Housing offers are impacted by:
- the number of properties in the area you want to live in
- the number of properties that become available
  your circumstances and match to the available property
- the number of people who have the same housing need in the same area as you
More information on social housing applications, assessments and offers can be found on the Queensland government website HERE.