Going away from your home

You may need to leave your house for reasons such as holidays, health or cultural importance. You need to tell us if you plan to be away for either:

• up to 8 weeks at a time
• a total of 8 weeks in a 12-month period.

You don’t need formal approval, but you do need to give us some details.

Being away for more than 8 weeks

We understand that, under special circumstances, you may need to be away from your home for more than 8 weeks at one time, or a total of more than 8 weeks in a 12-month period.

In these instances, talk to your tenancy manager, who will consider your circumstances and assess if your need to be away from your property balances the needs of other clients on the Housing Register who are waiting for housing assistance.

Examples of fair reasons to be away for more than 8 weeks include:

• health and wellbeing (medical treatment, hospitalization, rehabilitation or carer’s responsibilities)
• work training or study
• family, kinship and cultural responsibilities
• travels for a significant life event, circumstance or emergency
• domestic or family violence, or child safety issues.

If you’re away for a total or more than 5 months in a 12-month period, your tenancy manager may discuss your ongoing needs for social housing.

What you need to tell us

If you plan to be away from your house, tell us:

• the start date when you’re going away
• the date you’ll be back in the house
• contact details (phone number, mobile number)
• a contact person and their phone number if we can’t contact you.

Telling us will help us:

• answer any questions about why the house is vacant
• know that you haven’t left the house and when you’ll be back
• contact you if anything happens to the house when you’re away.

What to do while you’re away

While you’re away, make sure:

• the rent is still paid on time
• someone can check on your house to make sure it’s okay
• you keep your electricity connected
• you keep your tenancy manager updated about your absence.

What to do when you return

When you’re back, please let us know as soon as possible.

More information

Please talk to Housing staff if you need more information about what to do when you’re away from your home.