Paying your rent in public housing

Introduction

All public housing tenants must pay rent in the Northern Territory (NT).

The amount you pay will depend on:

  • the type of accommodation you have
  • your income
  • the number of people living in the property.

Rebates

A rental rebate is a subsidy given to eligible urban public housing tenants, including Alice Springs town camps, excluding Ilpeye Ilpeye.

Whether you're entitled to a rebate depends on:

  • your income
  • the income of other people in your household.

Before you apply, you should talk to your housing officer and discuss your application.

You must also provide supporting documents from each household member aged 18 years and over.

Some of these documents may include proof of all sources of income and assets.

Your application won't be assessed if there is missing information.

If you don't provide supporting documents, you will be charged full rent.

To apply for the rebate, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the rental rebate and continued eligibility application.

Rental rebate and continued eligibility application PDF (318.2 KB)
Rental rebate and continued eligibility application DOCX (245.6 KB)

Step 2. Provide supporting documents of household income.

Step 3. Submit your application with supporting documents to your local housing office.

Your rent rebate will be based on your household's assessable income.

A percentage will be applied to this income to calculate your rent amount.

These percentage rates changed on 4 December 2023, to 25% of assessable income for all eligible households.

Assessable income

There are a number of different types of income that are used to assess your eligibility for a rental rebate.

Find out what types of income are included or excluded from the assessment.

You must contact your local housing office within 28 days if:

  • people move in or out
  • a household member starts or stops work and their income changes
  • a household member's pension or Centrelink payments change.

The size of your home should match the needs of the household. If the number of people living with you changes, you may be able to transfer to a smaller or larger home.

If you have any questions, contact your local housing office.


Rent increases when you get a job

If you get a job or your work hours increase and you receive more income, you may apply for the Employment Incentive Scheme.

Households that are eligible for this scheme receive a fixed term tenancy agreement.

This agreement starts from the date of the change and lasts for up to 12 months.

Income and asset assessment

To apply for the scheme, you must have your income and assets assessed.

A member of your household must also earn a minimum wage of $200 per week before tax.

You can only access the scheme once in a 12-month period.

How rent is increased

Your rent is increased in 3 stages during a 12-month period.

Stage one

For the first 3 months your rent will remain at the same amount you were charged before your income increased.

Stage two

For the next 3 months your rental rebate is calculated based on your increased household income.

Stage three

The last stage continues for the remaining 6 months.

Households eligible for public housing will continue to receive a rental rebate.

Households who are no longer eligible for public housing will be charged full rent or 30% of income - whichever amount is less.

If your income drops, your rent could be recalculated.

Read more about rental rebates.

How to apply

Contact your local housing office.


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.


If you do not pay your rent or other bills

You will go into debt if you don't pay your rent and other bills on time.

The amount of time you have to pay a bill is different for each service provided.

For example:

  • rental arrears - immediately
  • damage to property charges - 30 days
  • excess water charges - 30 days
  • legal fees - 30 days
  • bond - the date you start your tenancy
  • bond assistance loan – refer to your loan repayment schedule.

If you can't make your payments, you must contact your housing officer about the available payment options.

Notice of rental arrears

You will be sent an arrears advice letter if your rent is 7 days overdue.

If your rent is still not paid 7 days after this first letter, you will receive a final arrears advice letter.

The letters will include a summary of what you must pay.

Help with paying your debts

Contact your local housing office as soon as possible to let them know you're having problems paying your bills.

You can also ask for support services that can help you manage your money so that you can pay your bills on time.

Agreement to pay

You may not be able to pay your debt with one payment.

The department will work with you to organise a number of payments over an agreed period of time.

This is called an agreement to pay.

For more information, contact your local housing office.


Maximum rent for houses in remote communities

If you live in a public housing home in a remote community, your rent will not be higher than the maximum limit.

The maximum limits are:

  • 1 bedroom - $150
  • 2 bedrooms - $175
  • 3 bedrooms - $230
  • 4 bedrooms - $250.

Rental rebates

A rental rebate is a subsidy given to eligible public housing tenants.

Whether you're entitled to a rebate depends on your income and the income of other people in your household.

Read more about rental rebates.


Paying bond and other charges

Bond amounts may vary but are usually the value of 4 weeks' rent.

Your bond will be the value of:

  • 2 weeks' rebated rent and 2 weeks' market rent - if you receive a rental rebate
  • 4 weeks' rebated rent - if you receive an aged pension.

Read more on rebated rent.

Other charges

You must pay for your own electricity costs and other connections such as phone or internet.

If your home has its own water meter, the department pays for 500 kilolitres of water per year. This is measured every year between 1 October and 30 September.

For any water used over 500 kl, you may be asked to pay for the costs. If there was an unidentified maintenance problem such as leaking taps or pipes, you may not have to pay for the excess water.