Rent and accommodation types for Rent Assistance

You must pay more than the minimum amount of eligible rent or accommodation costs and live in an eligible accommodation type to get Rent Assistance.

You must also be getting an eligible payment from us.

Eligible types

You must live in one of these accommodation types to get Rent Assistance:

• community and disability housing
• defence housing
• private housing
• retirement or lifestyle villages
• housing for people younger than 25
• accommodation where you pay board and lodging.

If you’re travelling or pay site and mooring fees, you may also get Rent Assistance.

Types that aren’t eligible

You’re not eligible for Rent Assistance if you pay rent to live in or lease a house that a state or territory housing authority owns or manages.

State or territory housing authorities include:

• ACT - Community Services Directorate, known as Housing ACT
• NSW - Department of Communities and Justice, known as Homes NSW
• NT - Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development
• QLD - Department of Housing and Public Works
• SA - South Australia Housing Trust
• Tas - Homes Tasmania
• Vic - Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - Homes Victoria, including properties that they own or lease but are being managed by Transitional Housing Management (THM)
• WA - Department of Communities, known as Housing Authority.

You may still be eligible for Rent Assistance if both:

• the house transfers from a state or territory housing authority to a community housing provider
• the state housing authority still collects rent on behalf of the community housing provider.

If you’re not sure who you pay rent to, contact your housing provider and let us know so we can update your details.