Rental Rebate Manual

The purpose of the Rental Rebate manual is to outline the processes by which the Office of Housing manages the rental rebate system.

The Director of Housing accepts from eligible tenants a reduced rent on the basis of the Office of Housing's rental rebate policy. The difference between the rent charged to a public housing tenant and the market rent  of their property is known as the rental rebate.

The rental rebate policy is aimed at reducing the disparity in the financial assistance given to public and private renters while ensuring rents continue to be set at affordable levels and sufficient rent revenue is received by the Department to cover costs not met by government funding.

Front Information & Revision History
The front matter at the start of the manual provides informaiton of the historty of the Rental Rebate manual, dates of any changes, definitions and responsibilities. The Table of Contents is also found in this part of the manual.

  Front Information and Revision History (PDF Size 241KB, Pages 29)
 Front Information and Revision History (Word Size 402KB, Pages 29)

Chapter 1 Applications
This chapter describes the process by which an eligible public housing tenant may apply for rebated rent. The information or documentation required as part of the application may vary due to different sources of income received by members of the household.

 Applications  (PDF Size 238KB, Pages 26)
 Applications  (Word Size 322KB, Pages 25)

Chapter 2 Assessable and Non-assessable Incomes
The Office of Housing defines whether income received by tenants and residents are included when calculating a household's rental rebate.

Assessable incomes are incomes received by individuals for general income support, and are included in the rental assessment. Non-assessable incomes are payments provided for a specific purpose, such as pharmaceutical allowance. These are not included in the rental assessment.

 Assessable and Non-Assessable Incomes (PDF Size 301KB, Pages 74)
 Assessable and Non-Assessable Incomes (Word Size 911KB, Pages 73)

Chapter 3 Calculations and Backdates
Rebated rent is calculated as a percentage of the household's total assessable income. The maximum rental charged to a tenant is the market rent on the property. Included in this chapter are the methods of calculating rent based on different income sources, backdating rental charges (debit and credit backdates) and rent cancellation.

 Calculations and Backdates (PDF Size: 213kb, Pages 30)
 Calculations and Backdates (Word Size: 318kb, Pages 29)

Chapter 4 Special Circumstances
There are special circumstances which require exemptions to general rebated rent policy, eg. changes in household composition or household members attaining a significant age, such as 100 years old. This chapter lists these special circumstances and how the rebated rents of these households are calculated.

 Special Circumstances (PDF Size 330KB, Pages 35)
 Special Circumstances (Word Size 542KB, Pages 35)

Chapter 5 Rent Reviews
The Office of Housing conducts regular rebated rent reviews of households that are affected by changes in payments from Centrelink and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, to make adjustments for changes in their household incomes. These include biannual Automated Fixed Rent Reviews whereby household incomes are automatically reviewed and adjusted, and Automated Contact Reviews to confirm the correct rent charged based on existing income and household details.

 Rent Reviews (PDF Size 144KB, Pages 17)
 Rent Reviews (Word Size 206KB, Pages 17)

Chapter 6 Neighbourhood Renewal
The Office of Housing provides a 16-week 'grace period' from rent increases for Office of Housing tenants and residents living in Neighbourhood Renewal Areas who obtain employment or participate in the Community Jobs Program (and have been unemployed for at least six months in the last 12 months). The aim of this policy is to provide an opportunity for them to 'get ahead' before their new income is included in rent assessment, and recognises that additional costs may arise when commencing employment.

 Neighbourhood Renewal (PDF Size 108KB, Pages 12)
 Neighbourhood Renewal (Word Size 179KB, Pages 12)

Chapter 7 Appendix
The Appendix chapter contains additional information, and the relevant forms and letters used in managing the Office of Housing's rental rebate system.

 Appendix (PDF Size 334KB, Pages 32)
 Appendix (Word Size 812KB, Pages 32)

 Index (PDF Size 42KB, Pages 6)
 Index (Word Size 111KB, Pages 6)