Paying your rent in public housing

How and when to pay your rent

Your rent is due every Monday.

You start paying rent from the date your tenancy agreement began.

Your first payment includes one week's rent plus an additional one week's rent in advance.

You must pay a minimum of one week's rent in advance.

You can set up automatic rent payments. These services do not cost anything.

If you need help setting up automatic payments, you should contact your local housing office.

Rent Deduction Scheme

If you're receiving a pension from Centrelink, you can sign up to the Rent Deduction Scheme.

Centrelink will then pay your rent direct from your pension.

Find out more on the Australian Government's Services Australia website.

Income management deductions

You can pay your rent from your income managed money.

Centrelink will pay your rent direct from your income management.

Find out more about income management on the Australian Government's Services Australia website.

Direct debits

You can set up regular rent payments from your bank or credit union account.

You rent will be paid directly from the account you nominate.

This means you can pay rent weekly, fortnightly or monthly, if your account is kept in credit by at least one week's rent.

You can make direct payments to:

Account name: Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities
BSB: 085 933
Account number: 432 873 382

Tenants should use their tenancy account number as a reference for any direct payments.

Tenancy account numbers can be obtained from your local housing office.

If you're having trouble paying your rent, contact your local housing office as soon as possible to discuss:

  • other payment options
  • debt management.

You should contact your local housing office as soon as you get billed for other housing costs. They may be able to help you plan for future bill payments.

You can pay by any of the following methods:

  • direct debit from your bank or credit union account
  • salary deduction from your employer
  • in person at any Australia Post office
  • mail a cheque or money order to your your local housing office.

When making payments over the phone, online or at an Australia Post office, you must quote your rent account number as your reference number.

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