Paying Your Rent
There are a few easy and convenient ways to pay your rent, so you can choose the option that suits you best. Whether you prefer automatic deductions, online payments, or paying in person, there’s a method to match your needs.
It’s important to keep your rent payments up to date to help maintain your tenancy. If you’re having any trouble making a payment or your circumstances change, please contact Home in Place as soon as possible. Support is available, and we’re here to help.
Here are the ways you can pay your rent:
-
Use Centrepay to make regular deductions from your Centrelink payment. Centrepay is a voluntary and easy payment option available to Centrelink customers.
Go to Centrepay Services Australia for more information on how to set up your Centrepay deductions.
-
Information for BPAY payments are on your Tenant Statement.
-
A post bill card will be issued to you and is uniquely coded to your tenancy.
This option can be used for any payment on Home in Place invoices for water or maintenance or your weekly rent payments.
How to Read your Tenant Statement
Your Tenant Statement gives you a clear breakdown of your rent, payments, and account balances. Here’s how to read each section.
-
Address block
This is your postal address. Most of the time it will be the same as your street address, but it could also be a PO Box or the address of a nominated contact person you have asked us to send your mail to.Date issued
The date the statement was printed.Tenancy start date
The date your tenancy with Home in Place began.Tenancy details
Shows your unique Tenancy Code (also known as your Tenant Number), the name of the primary lease holder, and the property address. -
Current rent balance
Shows your current rent account balance and the date your rent is paid to as of the day the statement was printed.- If you have a balance outstanding, the text will appear in red and instead of “days in front” it will show “days behind”.
- If you are behind, the “paid to” date will be the date the statement was printed minus the number of days overdue.
Other balances
Shows any credits or balances outstanding for non-rent accounts such as water and maintenance. Outstanding balances will appear in red.Rent history
Displays both the market rent (full rental value of the property) and the rent you pay.Many tenants pay a reduced rent or receive a rebate based on household income.
If your household income assessment is equal to or higher than the market rent, you will pay market rent.
You will never pay more than the market rent.
Bond details
Shows the total bond payable and the amount still owing. If no bond was required, both amounts will always show $0.00.Current payment plan
Displays any payment plans you have signed with Home in Place.Rent history table
Shows the history of payable rent amounts during your tenancy, with the date range each amount applied. -
Date column
Shows the date of each transaction.Details column
Explains what the transaction was for:- Rent invoices always start with “Rent from” and include the week it covers.
- Rent payments show as Receipts.
Other adjustments include short notes such as Refund, Rent adjustment or Transfer of credit.
Paid from / Paid to columns
Show the date range your payments or credits apply to.- If you are in credit, these dates will be in the future.
- If you are behind, the dates will be in the past.
Debit column
Lists charges applied to your account (for example weekly rent invoices or adjustments).Credit column
Lists payments made to your account (for example BPAY or Centrepay payments, or rent adjustments).Balance column
Shows the running total of your account after each transaction.- If your account is in credit, a minus sign will appear (e.g. -250 means your account is $250 ahead).
- If your account is in arrears, the amount will appear without a minus sign (e.g. 250 means your account is $250 behind).
-
Billing information
The last page of your statement includes:
- Home in Place BPAY Biller Code
- Your unique BPAY Reference Numbers
These numbers are used to pay rent and other account invoices through BPAY and are unique to your tenancy.
You can request them at any time by calling Home in Place.
-
Download a sample Tenant Statement with notes here
Commonwealth Rent Assistance
Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) is a non-taxable income supplement paid through Centrelink™ to individuals and families who rent in the private rental market (e.g. Social Housing). It aims to address basic living costs by reducing the proportion of household income that is spent on housing.
The subsidised rent is based on a percentage of assessable household income plus 100% of the household’s entitlement to CRA. This is subject to the qualification that the subsidised rent must not exceed market rent.
More information on CRA eligibility rules, including minimum rent amounts and maximum amounts of CRA payable for various income types, can be obtained from the Centrelink™ website.
Market Rent & Rebated Rent
Market rent is the actual rent amount for the property, whereas rebated (or subsidised) rent is the rent that is applicable to a tenant based on their income calculation and eligibility.
A rebated or subsidised rent amount will never exceed the market rent amount.
Calculating Social Housing Rent
Your household’s total gross assessable income will be used to calculate your rent subsidy and the rent you will pay.
You will pay rent based on a percentage of your total household’s assessable income or the market rent for the property in which you live – whichever is lowest.
Please note that if successfully placed in Community Housing, you will need to pay rent two (2) weeks in advance.
For more information please refer to our Policies page.
Rent Reviews
In New South Wales, Home in Place undertakes an income assessment and rent review every six months.
In Queensland tenants’ rents are reviewed annually in line with recent changes to Queensland legislation.
In Victoria, market rent is reviewed and adjusted, generally on an annual basis.
In Western Australia, tenants’ rent is typically reviewed annually, or more frequently if a tenant’s household income changes.
Home in Place is required to review market rents annually to make sure that the rate at which market rent is assessed is in line with current valuations of properties. Tenants will be notified of any adjustments to the market rent.
Affordable Housing Eligibility Reviews
All tenants housed in Affordable Housing properties, or managed under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) are required to participate in an annual eligibility review in order to receive a rebated rent. Rents for NRAS properties will not exceed 80% of the market rent. For more information please refer to our Policies page
Rent Arrears
If rent falls into arrears at any time, the Tenancy Relations Officer will work with the tenant to set a repayment plan to catch up the money owing. The Tenancy Relations Officer may ask the tenant to complete a Financial Hardship Form.
If tenants do not contact Home in Place regarding their rent arrears, their tenancy may be at risk. If the arrears period is more than fourteen (14) days and contact has not been made with the Tenancy Relation Officer, a Notice of Termination will be issued.
For more information please refer to our Policies page.
-
Financial Hardship Form
Rental Bonds
A bond is payable when signing your Residential Tenancy Agreement. Home in Place requires tenants to pay a rental bond at the commencement of a tenancy.
NSW tenants – Maximum bond payable is equal to four weeks market rent.
Queensland tenants – Four weeks of subsidised rent as bond payment.
Victorian tenants – In most cases, a bond cannot be more than one month’s rent.
Western Australia, tenants – Bond is equivalent to 4 weeks of the market rent. If tenant has consent to have a pet, Home in Place may ask the tenant to pay a pet bond, this will not exceed $260.
If you are unable pay the amount in full, please speak with your Tenancy Relations Officer prior to signing your lease, as we may be able to arrange for a payment plan.
All rental bond payments will be remitted to the relevant Bond Board in accordance with the legislation.
For more information please refer to our Policies page.
Water Usage
Home in Place tenants living will be charged water usage in accordance with the relevant legislation.
For more information please refer to our Policies page.
Water usage charges are identified separately on tenant statements and will need to be paid separately to rent.
