My tenancy

My tenancy

How is my rent calculated?

 

Your eligibility to apply for a home under a particular housing program is determined by a number of factors including your combined household income.

The actual rent you pay and how it is calculated then depends on whether your home is part of a social-or affordable-housing.

Social housing rents

 

Depending on the program, social housing rents are charged as a percentage of household income plus 100 per cent of Commonwealth Rental Assistance (CRA). For more information see Department of Human Services – Rent Assistance.

The percentage depends on the state you live in and the particular housing program that you have accessed. The maximum percentage of household income we charge is 30 per cent.

For more information about how your rent is calculated, please refer to the Housing Choices Rent Setting Policy [Victoria] or contact your Housing Officer.

Affordable housing rents

 

Affordable housing rents are based on what is known as the market rent. The market rent reflects what it would cost to rent the property through a private landlord. Affordable housing rates will be no more than 75 per cent of the market rent for a property, which is a discounted Market Rent.

  • Market rent is reviewed and adjusted, generally on an annual basis.

How and when to pay rent

 

You can pay your rent weekly or fortnightly, but it must always be paid two weeks in advance.

You can pay in two simple, reliable ways:

1. Centrepay (for Centrelink customers) 

  • Centrepay is a free service that automatically pays your rent from your Centrelink payments.
  • You can set it up using myGov, the Express Plus Centrelink app, at a Service Centre, or by calling us on 1300 312 447.
  • You’ll need your Centrelink Customer Reference Number and Housing Choices Australia’s Customer Reference Number. If you are not sure where to find this, please contact your Housing Officer.
  • Click here to read more about Centrepay

2. BPAY 

  • BPAY is a secure and reliable way of paying rent from your bank.
  • To set up rent payments log in to your bank’s app, website or phone banking service.
  • Choose the pay bills or payment section and enter our Biller code and your BPAY reference number.
  • Set up ongoing payments so your rent is always paid on time.
  • Call us on 1300 312 447 if you need our Biller code your unique BPAY reference number.

Income changes

 

It is your responsibility to notify Housing Choices Australia of any change in your income and/or family circumstances within 14 days of the effect of that change.

If you receive Centrelink payments, you will also need to advise Centrelink of any change in income and/or family circumstances so your payments and Commonwealth Rent Assistance payments are reviewed.

What happens if I don’t pay my rent on time?

 

If you are finding it hard to pay your rent and are worried about falling behind with your rent payments, you should contact your Housing Officer as soon as you can.

We will help you to come to an agreement to pay off any money that you owe at a reasonable rate. However, should you fail to keep to this agreement we are entitled to take legal action which could ultimately lead to you losing your home.

I’m in debt. Where can I get help?

 

There are a number of services that can assist you. Financial counsellors provide information, support and advocacy to help people in financial difficulty. Their services are free, independent and confidential. Contact your Housing Officer, who can provide you with details of financial counselling in your local area.

Will I be evicted if I don’t pay my rent?

 

If your rent account continues to fall into serious rent arrears and you do not comply with the agreement to pay, and do not keep in touch with us, there is the possibility that you could be evicted.

Ending your tenancy

 

You may find yourself in a situation where you want to end your tenancy agreement with Housing Choices Australia. To do this you must provide at least 28 days notice of intention to vacate or, 14 days’ notice of intention to vacate if you have been offered and accepted accommodation by another registered housing agency. Notice to your Housing Officer must be in writing either by email, post, in person or by fax.

The notice must:

  • Be signed and dated
  • Give the date when you will be giving vacant possession (removed all your belongings and handed in the keys)
  • Include the reason for ending the tenancy

You should also download the Vacate Cleaning Checklist to ensure the property is left in a suitable condition. You may incur a debt and/or lose part of your entire bond if the items on the checklist are not completed.

Your Housing Officer will complete a final outgoing inspection when you have cleaned the property and returned the keys. If there are no outstanding costs, your Housing Officer will sign the bond form and the bond will be refunded to you.

You can telephone your Housing Officer if you are not sure about the procedure, or if you have any questions.