Rent setting and rent review

Mission Australia Housing (MAH) provides homes for people on very low to moderate incomes through different housing programs. The amount of rent you pay depends on the type of housing you’re in and your household’s income.

When you sign your lease, your rent is set at the full market rent, this is the amount your home could be rented for privately. However, if you live in social housing, you may be eligible for a rent subsidy, which can reduce the amount you pay.

If you're approved for a rent subsidy, your rent is usually based on:

• About 25% of your household’s total gross income (before tax)
• (In Tasmania, it’s based on net income instead)
• 100% of any Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) you receive from Centrelink

This helps ensure your rent is affordable based on your financial situation.

Market rent is the full amount that could be charged for your home, based on current rental prices in the area. MAH reviews this amount each year.

All tenants in social housing are charged market rent by default. If you apply for and are approved for a rent subsidy your rent will be reduced based on your household income.

If you don’t apply, don’t meet the eligibility criteria, or don’t complete all the steps of your rent review, your subsidy may be removed, and you’ll be charged the full market rent.

When it’s time for your household income review, we’ll send you a letter. Make sure you read it carefully.

You may need to:

1. Complete the Household Declaration Form (if included), be sure to list everyone living in your home (including children and people with no income)
2. Include income details and documents for all household members (unless you or any household member has already given MAH consent to get this information directly from Centrelink).

Use the reply-paid envelope, just make sure it’s sent back before the due date.

A rent review usually includes two parts:

• A market rent assessment (once a year)
• A household income review, which may happen once or twice a year, or if your income or household changes

Important

If you don’t return your income details or tell us about changes to your household by the due date, your rent subsidy may be cancelled, and you may be charged full market rent.

Centrelink income

You can provide:

• A signed Multiple Consent and Authority Form (for anyone over 18, or over 16 in Tasmania) If you’ve already signed this, you don’t need to do anything else for Centrelink income.
• Or a Centrelink Income Statement that’s less than one month old

Wages

• Full-time or part-time: Pay slips for the last 4 consecutive weeks
• Casual: Pay slips for the last 12 consecutive weeks
• Or a letter from your employer showing your gross income for the past 12 weeks

Note: Pay slips must cover a continuous period, not random weeks to show your current income accurately.

Other income

You may also need to provide statements for:

• Interest from savings or investments over $5,000
• Cash-in-hand work
• Child support or family maintenance
• Overseas pensions

Not all income is counted. Children under 18 (or under 16 in Tasmania) aren’t charged rent unless they’re the main tenant or their partner. Ask your Housing team for a full list.

If you have written confirmation from Centrelink stating that you are not entitled to receive an income. please provide this to your local office. This helps us determine whether the basic rent charge applies. In some cases, such as certain visa holders you may not be eligible for income support, and we take that into account when assessing rent.

Your rent may go up or down if:

• Your income changes
• Your household members change
• The market rent for your property changes

We’ll send you a letter explaining any changes and when they start.

Yes, if:

• Your rent is paid through Centrelink, and
• You haven’t given us permission to update it for you

You can fill out a Centrepay Deduction Consent Form to let us update your rent directly with Centrelink.

CRA is a payment from Centrelink to help with rent. Even if you don’t receive it now, it’s worth checking if you’re eligible. CRA is included as part of your household income when we calculate your rent.

Let us know if:

• Someone moves in or out
• Your income changes

Keeping your details up to date helps make sure your rent stays fair and accurate.

If you’re unhappy with our service you can lodge a complaint. See our Appeals and Complaints Fact Sheet.  

See our Rents, Bonds and Other Charges Policy for more information.