Who is Eligible for Public Housing?
Fixed Term Leases
Rent Subsidy
Water Charges
Maintenance
Market Rent Review
Who is Eligible for Public Housing?
Housing NSW focuses on those people considered to be in the greatest housing need. These are people on a low income who need support services to help them live independently, as well as people who have problems accessing affordable and suitable housing in the private rental market.
For more information, see the Changes to Income Eligibility for Public Housing fact sheet.
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Fixed Term Leases
New tenants entering public housing are offered a lease that reflects how long they need to be in public housing: short-term (2 years), medium (5 years) or long-term (10 years).
This does not affect tenants living in public or Aboriginal housing before 1 July 2005 who will stay on their existing tenancy arrangements.
For more information see the Fixed Term Leases and Lease Review fact sheet.
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Rent Subsidy
Since 5 December 2005 Housing NSW has changed how it calculates the rent payable for families in receipt of the Family Tax Benefit, and households who earn a moderate income.
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Water Charges
Public housing tenants are required to pay for water. This charge is in addition to the tenant’s rent.
Tenants pay either a ‘percentage water charge’ or an ‘actual water charge’. This is determined by whether the property in which the tenant resides has a shared or a separate water meter and whether Housing NSW receives sufficient usage information from the local water authority to determine the tenant’s water usage.
Tenants residing in shared metered properties pay a percentage of their actual rent as a water usage charge. A maximum weekly charge applies to this charge. The percentage rate and the maximum charge are reviewed each year.
Tenants residing in separately metered properties pay for the actual water they use.
This policy applies also to Aboriginal Housing Office tenancies.
Tenants do not pay for connection, sewerage and other charges not related to water usage.
Payment of Water Charges
Payment of water usage charges must be made weekly or fortnightly into the tenant’s separate water usage account. Tenants can choose from three methods of paying for water:
• By arranging an automatic payment from their Centrelink payments
• By paying at Australia Post with a tenant card or payment reference number
• By arranging an automatic payment from their bank, building society or credit union account (fees may apply).
If an unexpected problem comes up and a tenant can’t pay for water, they must contact their Client Service Officer immediately to discuss theproblem.
For more information, see the Paying For Water fact sheet.
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Maintenance
Housing NSW is implementing a new maintenance system that will carry out repairs through a more planned approach, and will ensure its homes meet the Housing NSW's standards.
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Market Rent Review
Housing NSW annually reviews the market rent of its homes to ensure public housing tenants are paying an affordable amount of rent.
For more information, see the Market Rent Review fact sheet:
If you require further information, please contact Housing NSW on
1800 629 212.
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