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 review are there?
There are two types of rent reviews:
- Income Confirmation Service reviews
Household members who receive a Centrelink income may participate in the Income Confirmation Service and do not need to provide the Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness Services) with evidence of their Centrelink income. The department obtains this information directly from Centrelink. If you have additional income, you will need to provide evidence of this income to the department to complete your rent review. The department will advise you of the deadline for supplying the information.
Other rent reviews
- If you do not receive a Centrelink income or have chosen not to, or are unable to participate in the 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 to provide and the deadline for supplying the information.
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 happen if I do not tell the department about some 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 local Housing Service Centre.