Rent in Indigenous communities
The Community Housing Rent Policy for Indigenous Councils outlines how rent is worked out for social housing owned by Aboriginal Shire councils, the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council, and Torres Strait Island Regional Council.
If you are living in a remote Indigenous community, your rent is assessed based on the income of each person living in the property. This means that all households will pay either approximately 25% of their total assessable (after-tax) income as rent or the maximum rent, whichever is the lower amount.
How rent is worked out
The amount of rent you pay depends on the role and age of people in your household, and if your income is assessable or non-assessable.
Assessable income
We use most pensions, benefits and allowances paid by Centrelink and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to assess for your rent.
Other income assessed includes your salary, overtime, bonuses, shift allowances, superannuation, compensation payments and interest from savings.
Family Tax Benefit Part A payments are assessed at 15% and this amount is included in the rent assessment.
Non-assessable income
Income not used to work out your rent includes:
- payments like the pharmaceutical allowance, telephone allowance, family tax benefit Part B, foster care allowance or war disability pension
- the disability support pension, youth allowance and ABSTUDY (only applies to the ‘at home’ or ‘dependent’ rate)
- refunds from your employer for expenses incurred on the job, like paying for tools, meals, clothing or travel.
Proof of income
You need to provide either a Centrelink income and assets statement or an employer declaration form for each person living with you.
These documents must be provided within 28 days or your rent may be set at the maximum rent for the property.
No income
Household members who do not have any income, a very low income, or can not show evidence of their income, will have their rent assessed on their equivalent Centrelink payment.
This payment amount will represent the amount that most closely matches your circumstances. It depends on your age, marital status, if you live at or away from home, and if you have any children.
For example, the equivalent Centrelink payment may be used when:
- you are not receiving your full payment from Centrelink because you have breached your Centrelink commitments
-
you are working part-time or receiving a low income and you have chosen not to receive an income from Centrelink.
Changes to your rent
Changes in your household’s income
If your household income changes at any time, contact your nearest Housing Service Centre for a rent review.
If your income has decreased, your rent may be reduced from the date you provided proof of the change.
Someone moving in or out
If a person moves in or out of the property, contact your nearest Housing Service Centre for a rent review.
The condition of the property
The condition of the property is considered when working out how much rent you have to pay. Each property is assessed on its overall condition. If the property has a poor overall condition, a rent discount may be given.
The rent discount will apply until repairs are made to the property.
To check if you’re getting a rent discount, or to apply for the discount, contact your nearest Housing Service Centre.
More information
For more information on how rent is worked out in Indigenous communities, contact your nearest Housing Service Centre.
