Inside an SDA home at Wallsend

Rent, Payments & Bond

Paying Your Rent

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  • 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.

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.

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 Tenants 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.

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.

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.

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