Rents are reviewed annually using your household's assessable income.
Your nearest Housing Service Centre can advise you when your next rent review is due.
What types of rent reviews are there?
- Rent payable rent review letter
Household members who receive a Centrelink income, and who have consented will have their Centrelink incom details provided to the department via the Income Confirmation Service. The department obtains this information directly from Centrelink so you do not have to do anything unless the information about your household and your income on your letter is incorrect. If your information is incorrect, you will have to provide the department with your correct information and income evidence.
- Contact rent review letter
If your household income is not only a Centrelink income or you have not consented to using the to income Confirmation Service, you will receive a letter from the department asking you to provide evidence of all income for your household. Your rent review letter will list what income evidence you need t provide and the deadline for supplying the inforamation.ere are two types of rent reviews:
What happens if I don't supply the requested information by the due date?
If you don't supply the required information by the due date, your rent subsidy will be removed. You will then be charged the market rent for the property.
Your rent subsidy is the difference between the rent you pay based on your household's assessable income and the market rent for your property.
For example:
- The weekly market rent for your home is: $180.00
- Your weekly rent (based on household income) is: $100.00
- Your weekly household rent subsidy is: $80.00
- The Queensland Government subsidises this amount to ensure your rent remains affordable.
What happens if my income decreases between rent reviews?
If your household income decreases at any time, ask your nearest Housing Service Centre to review your rent. You must advise the department of any change in your income or household within 28 days of the change occurring.
What happens if my income increases between rent reviews?
The Housing Act 2003 requires that you must advise the department of any change in your income or any household member's income within 28 days of the change. Generally, your rent will not increase until your next rent review.
When a tenant on a Centrelink or Department of Veteran's Affairs income starts working, their household rent will not increase for at least six months as a result of this additional income. Please contact your nearest Housing Service Centre for details.
Note: If your household income increases because a new person has moved into your household, you must advise the department within 28 days. Your rent will be reviewed and you will be advised of your new rent amount.
What can happens if I do not tell the department about the changes in my household?
If you do not declare an increase in your income or new household members within 28 days of the income change or the new person joining your household, or at your rent review, you may incur a penalty under the Housing Act 2003 and your rent may be backdated.
Need more information?
Please contact your nearest Housing Service Centre.
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