Community housing is when you have a lease or rental agreement for your accommodation from a community or disability housing organisation and you aren’t a government tenant or sub-tenant.
Community housing provides services such as:
- accommodation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- disability accommodation
- a refuge or rehabilitation centre
- student accommodation
- some special needs housing - state and territory housing authorities assess these needs.
This rule also applies if your community or disability housing organisation accommodation is state funded or leased from the state housing authorities. If you’re unsure if you’re in community or disability housing, contact your housing provider to find out.
Example when Rent Assistance applies
If you pay rent to the New South Wales Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) for accommodation in one of their houses, you’re eligible for Rent Assistance. This is because they’re a community housing organisation and it’s their house you’re renting.
Examples when Rent Assistance doesn’t apply
- If you pay rent to the AHO for accommodation in a house they don’t own, you’re not eligible for Rent Assistance. They sometimes collect rent on behalf of a state or territory housing authority for houses they don’t own. This means you’re not eligible because you’re living in government housing and you’re a government tenant or sub-tenant.
- Sometimes community housing can change to government housing. If this happens, it can affect your Rent Assistance. If you get a letter telling you the house you’re living in is transitioning to government housing, you should tell us. You should tell us even if you keep paying your rent to the community housing organisation. This is so we can update your rent details and avoid any overpayments.
Rent Assistance is payable to eligible customers. Find out more about who can get it.