Type of housing

You can choose which of the following types of housing you want to apply for.

The type of housing you may be offered, if you’re eligible, depends on what's available in your chosen areas and the number of bedrooms your household is entitled to.

Detached house – a house with 2 or more bedrooms on 1 block of land

Duplex – usually 2 units, with 1–3 bedrooms in each, divided by a common wall, on 1 block of land

Dual occupancy – 2 properties on 1 block of land

Cluster house – several attached or separate homes, with 2–4 bedrooms in each, within a housing development

Townhouse – 3 or more units next to each other, with 1–4 bedrooms in each, divided by common walls

Apartment / flat / unit – usually a complex of 2 or more storeys, with 1–3 bedrooms in each

Seniors’ unit – for people over the age of 55, usually in a complex of 1–2 storeys, with 1–2 bedrooms in each

Bedroom entitlements

We will work out how many bedrooms your household is entitled to based on the number, age and gender of the people in your household.

These are the bedroom entitlements:

Bedrooms	People
1 bedroom	Single person Couple
2 bedrooms	2 single people sharing Single or couple with 1–2 children
3 bedrooms	3 single people sharing Single or couple with 2–4 children
4 bedrooms	4 single people sharing Single or couple with 3–6 children
5 bedrooms (reviewable property)	5 single people sharing Single or couple with 4–8 children
6 bedrooms (reviewable property)	6 single people sharing Single or couple with 5–10 children
7 bedrooms (reviewable property)	7 single people sharing Single or couple with 6–12 children
Seniors’ unit	Single person over 55 years Couple over 55 years

Requesting fewer bedrooms

You can ask for housing with fewer bedrooms to increase your chance of getting a property sooner. However, we first need to agree that serious overcrowding won't occur.

To make this request, complete an Acceptance of smaller housing form (PDF, 995.2 KB) and take it to your nearest Housing Service Centre.

If you request and are offered the smaller housing, you won't be able to transfer to larger housing unless there are special circumstances.

How we assess bedroom entitlements

• Usually no more than 2 children of the same gender can share a bedroom. If the bedroom is big enough, 3 children of the same gender can share.
• If there's an age gap of 7 years or more between children of the same gender, each child gets their own bedroom.
• If someone in the property is 3 months pregnant or more (confirmed with a doctor’s certificate), enough bedrooms are provided to allow for a baby of either gender.
• Couples are given 1 bedroom only.
• Single people who are aged 18 or more when they apply and are housed will receive a separate bedroom.
• If someone in the property has regular and ongoing custody of children, these children are included in the assessment of bedroom entitlements. You must provide evidence of the custody arrangements.

If there are any changes to your household or housing need, you must tell us within 28 days.

We review your eligibility and housing need again while you're on the housing register and before we may consider you for an offer of housing.

You should also talk to your nearest Housing Service Centre if a household member needs an extra bedroom for:

• health, medical or disability–related equipment
• support needs
• a live-in carer.

Note: Housing offers will depend on the availability of housing in your chosen areas and the number of people ahead of you on the housing register with higher needs.