The department housing programs
(Fact sheets in languages other than English)
- Family Responsibilities Commission Act 2008 Family Responsibilities Commission Act 2008 - This fact sheet outlines the department's obligations under the Family Responsibilities Commission Act 2008 and how they may affect tenants.
- Department of Housing and Public Works Housing Service Centres Department of Housing and Public Works Housing Service Centres - The department has a number of offices throughout Queensland.
- Housing assistance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - The department has a range of services to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to find secure and affordable housing.
Remote Indigenous Communities fact sheets
- Community housing rent policy for Indigenous councils Community housing rent policy for Indigenous councils - Information on how the department works out your rent
- How will my rent be calculated? How will my rent be calculated? - How does the department calculate rent?
- Changes to maximum rent Changes to maximum rent - Information about changes to your maximum rent amount. These changes may result in some households either receiving a reduction in their weekly rent or some may remain the same.
- Rent Arrears Rent Arrears - Information on how the department manages rent arrears.
- Repairs to your house Repairs to your house - What to do if your property needs fixing and how the department manages 'unfair wear and tear'.
- Visitors to your house Visitors to your house - Visitors can stay in the property however there are conditions.
- Looking after your yard Looking after your yard - Tenants are responsible for looking after their yards and must keep it clean and tidy.
- Tenancy management Tenancy management - Information about the role of the department as the tenancy manager of the property.
- Ways to manage your rent Ways to manage your rent - This fact sheet contains helpful ways for tenants to manage their rental account.
- Smoke alarms can save your lives Smoke alarms can save your lives - Information explaining the importance of smoke alarms and how they can save lives.
- How to pay your rent How to pay your rent - This fact sheet provides information on the different ways tenants can pay their rent.
- Being absent from your home Being absent from your home - Tenants must tell the department when they are absent from the property.
- Maintenance Call Centre Maintenance Call Centre - A Call Centre has been established to take maintenance requests from clients in the Greater Brisbane area and 34 Indigenous Councils.
- New tenancy arrangements on your community New tenancy arrangements on your community - This fact sheet provides information about the new (40 Year Lease) tenacy arrangements established on remote Indigenous communities.
- Breaches Breaches - Information on how the department manages breaches.
- Blue phone Blue phone - This fact sheet provides information about Blue phones on remote Indigenous communities.
- Relocation Relocation - This fact sheet provides information on the relocation process offered by the department when tenants are asked to relacate to another property.
- Applying for housing Applying for housing - Where do you get an application form? What happens after you reply? What happens at the interview?
- Waiting for housing Waiting for housing - When you are accepted for social housing, your name is placed on the housing register according to your level of housing need.
- Debts 40 year lease Debts 40 year lease - this fact sheet provides information for clients who have prior debts with the department.
- Debts Debts - This fact sheet provides information for clients who have prior debts with the local council.
- Being offered housing assistance Being offered housing assistance - This fact sheet provides information on what to do once you have received an offer of housing assistance.
- Neighbourhood disputes Neighbourhood disputes - This fact sheet provides general information on how the department and you can best deal with neighbourhood disputes.
- Occupational Therapists in your community Occupational Therapists in your community - If you or someone else that lives with you has difficulty doing things at home due to a medical condition, injury or disability, an Occupational Therapist can help change or fix your home so that it is easier to live in
Applying for housing assistance
- Applying for housing assistance Applying for housing assistance - Where do you get an application form? What happens after you reply? What happens at the interview?
- Eligibility for housing assistance Eligibility for housing assistance - The department provides housing assistance to those in most need. You must meet all of the eligibility criteria to receive assistance.
- Types of housing assistance Types of housing assistance - This fact sheet outlines the different types of housing assistance available
- Housing entitlements Housing entitlements - What are you entitled to?
- Waiting for housing assistance Waiting for housing assistance - When you are accepted for social housing, your name is placed on the housing register according to your level of housing need.
- Being offered housing assistance Being offered housing assistance - This fact sheet provides information on what to do once you have received an offer of housing assistance.
- Housing assistance for children in need of protection Housing assistance for children in need of protection - Information on the referral for housing assistance from Child Safety Services for a child in need of protection.
- Housing assistance for people exiting correctional facilities Housing assistance for people exiting correctional facilities - This fact sheet provides information on the social housing assessment processes for people exiting correctional facilities.
- Housing assistance for people with disabilities Housing assistance for people with disabilities - People with a disability can be housed through the department's housing assistance program.
- Spinal Cord Injuries Response Spinal Cord Injuries Response - This initiative aims to assist individuals with a newly acquired spinal cord injury who are being discharged from the Spinal Cord Injuries Unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital following their acute care and rehabilitation.
- Housing with Shared Support Housing with Shared Support - This fact sheet provides information on Housing with Shared Support which is a form of housing assistance for people with disability support needs.
- Prior debts with the department Prior debts with the department - This fact sheet provides information for clients with prior debts with the department.
- Income Confirmation Service Income Confirmation Service - For those people who wish to participate in the Income Confirmation Service, it will allow the department to directly communicate with Centrelink to receive your income and asset details.
- Obtaining your personal information Obtaining your personal information - You can request access to departmental documents that contain your personal information through either a request through legislation (Right to Information and/or Information Privacy Acts) or the Administrative Access process.
- Guardians and Administrators Guardians and Administrators - Information for Guardians who manage the daily affairs of an adult who has impaired decision making capacity and Administrators who manage their financial, legal and property affairs.
Living in a departmental property
- Moving in checklist Moving in checklist - Use this checklist to let everyone know you've moved to a new address.
- Pets in social housing Pets in social housing - The keeping of pets in any departmental property must comply with Local Government local laws.
- Fixed term tenancies Fixed term tenancies - A fixed-term tenancy is a rental agreement with a definite end date. From 1 July 2012, all new State Tenancy Agreements will have a fixed term of three years.
- Your rent Your rent - Information on how the department works out your rent.
- How to pay your rent How to pay your rent - Information on your options for paying your rent.
- How to read a rental statement - Information on how to read your Housing Services rental statement.
- How to work out your rent How to work out your rent - How does the department calculate rent?
- Rent arrears Rent arrears - Information on how the department manages rent arrears.
- Breaches Breaches - The department provides a supportive tenancy management service to assist tenants to successfully sustain their tenancies.
- Ongoing eligibility for housing assistance Ongoing eligibility for housing assistance - The Ongoing Eligibility policy has been introduced to determine the ongoing housing need of tenants who have improved their circumstances during their tenancy with the department, and who may now have alternatives other than social housing.
- Under-occupancy in public housing Under-occupancy in public housing - This fact sheet provides information on the department's policies that address households residing in properties that are larger than their current bedroom entitlement - Transfers; Tenancies in Reviewable Properties;, and Significant Under-occupancy
- Tenancies in reviewable properties Tenancies in reviewable properties - This fact sheet provides information on the department's introduction of tenancies in reviewable properties for tenants who live in social housing properties with access for people who use wheelchairs, or have five or more bedrooms and were built to house large families.
- Transfers Transfers - Tenants in departmental properties in Queensland may apply for a transfer to another property. Applications are considered based on certain conditions.
- Mutual exchanges (swaps) Mutual exchanges (swaps) - Departmental tenants can apply for approval to exchange properties with other tenants.
- Relocation assistance for tenants Relocation assistance for tenants - This fact sheet provides information on the relocation assistance offered by the department when tenants are asked to relocate to another property.
- Succession of tenancy Succession of tenancy - A succession of tenancy occurs when there is a change to the legal tenant/s of a property on the State Tenancy Agreement.
- Temporary absence from your property Temporary absence from your property - Tenants can apply to be temporarily absent from their property if they obtain the department's prior written approval.
- Neighbourhood Disputes - Complaints Management Neighbourhood Disputes - Complaints Management - This fact sheet provides general information on how the department and you can best deal with neighbourhood disputes.
- Visitors at your property Visitors at your property - Visitors can stay in social housing properties however there are conditions.
- Electricity and your property Electricity and your property - explains requirement that electricity connection is maintained in Public Housing property.
Maintaining a departmental property
- Damage to your property Damage to your property - What to do if your property is damaged.
- Maintenance Call Centre Fact Sheet - A Call Centre has been established to take property maintenance requests from clients in the Greater Brisbane area and 34 Indigenous Councils.
- Maintenance of your property Maintenance of your property - The department is responsible for maintaining all standard inclusions in your home.
- Maintenance hints Maintenance hints - This fact sheet provides tenants with some hints on how to maintain their property.
- Water in your property and your health Water in your property and your health - Water is an important natural resource and should be used with care and consideration for our environment.
- Water saving hints Water saving hints - Water is a precious and increasingly scarce resource. We need to be careful about the way we use it. Here are some simple ways you can help conserve this precious resource.
- New telephone service connection fees New telephone service connection fees - Information on connecting telephones to your rental property.
- Asbestos Asbestos - This fact sheet provides information for tenants living in a property that may contain asbestos.
- Car parking in multi-dwelling complexes Car parking in multi-dwelling complexes - If you live in a multi-dwelling complex, you need to be aware of some regulations regarding the car parks provided.
- Fire ants Fire ants - Fire ants have been found in a number of places within Queensland. Each property in an infested area must be treated by Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries to eradicate the fire ant.
- Lead-based paint Lead-based paint - This fact sheet provides information for tenants about lead-based paint in departmental properties.
- Mould Mould - This fact sheet provides tips for avoiding and treating mould in your property.
- Evaporative Air-Conditioner Evaporative Air-Conditioner - This fact sheet provides information on the correct operation of evaporative air-conditioners (also called evaporative air-coolers).
- Hot water systems Hot water systems - This fact sheet explains the various types of hot water systems and provides information on the relevant electricity tariffs.
- Heat pumps Heat pumps - This fact sheet explains the operation of heat pump water heaters and the electricity tariffs required for their use.
Ending a tenancy with the department
- Moving out checklist Moving out checklist - What should I do now that I want to move out of my home?
- Leaving social housing Leaving social housing - If you decide to end your tenancy with the department, you need to be aware of your obligations under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 before you leave.
- Sales to Tenants Sales to Tenants - Should I buy my public rental home? What do I need know?
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