2, 5 and 10 Year Leases
Public housing leases are no longer for life. The length of time a tenant can stay in public housing will be matched to their need for public housing. This will enable Housing NSW to assist a greater number of people in the longer term.
Since 23 October 2006, most new tenants entering public housing are offered a fixed term lease of 2, 5 or 10 years in length.
Fixed term leases will be subject to a lease review before they end to decide if an extension to the lease should be offered and if so, how long it should be.
Fixed Term Leases also apply to applicants for and tenants of the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) who have been housed in properties managed by Housing NSW since 23 October 2006.
Tenants who entered Housing NSW or AHO properties managed by Housing NSW before 1 July 2005 will keep their existing tenancy arrangements.
Lease Review
Before a fixed term lease ends, Housing NSW will collect information on a tenant’s household and assess:
- whether the tenant is still eligible for public housing
- if eligible, whether their needs merit a 2, 5 or 10 year lease extension.
Eligibility depends on whether total household income is equal to or less than the limits that apply for lease review and whether the tenant or their partner owns or part-owns property that they could use to meet their housing needs.
Tenants who are not eligible for an extension to their lease will be given sufficient notice to enable them to find alternate accommodation.
Housing NSW may offer advice or help the tenant to move into private housing.
These changes also apply to tenants of the Aboriginal Housing office who have fixed term leases.
For further information on lease reviews refer to the fact sheet, Fixed Term Leases and Lease Review Fact Sheet - English (PDF file, 252 KB).