Rent – Social Housing Policy

POLICY STATEMENT

I. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the process for calculation of rent payable by tenants of SCH Social Housing properties.

II. Definitions

• Market rent is rent paid for similar properties within the local rental market.
• Rebated rent is the amount a tenant must pay when we calculate rent as a percentage of the tenant’s assessable household income plus any Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
• The rent subsidy is the difference between rebated rent and the market rent for a property.

III. Coverage

This policy applies to all SCH managed social housing properties.

IV. Principles

The maximum amount payable for a Social Housing property by any tenant will be Market Rent. This is the amount shown on Residential Tenancy Agreements or subsequent Annual Market Rent reviews and is the maximum rent the tenant will be expected to pay, as varied by rent reviews.

However, Social Housing tenants may be eligible to pay Rebated Rent, based on their household income. Rebated Rent for Social housing will be reviewed six monthly in line with Centrelink payment increases, and when a tenant advises a change in household members or incomes.

Rebated rent will be calculated in accordance with the NSW Community Housing Rent Policy.

The minimum amount of rent a tenant or a household member may pay is $5 per week. This will only occur where an approved tenant or household member:

• Is not eligible for Centrelink benefits, for example, because they are in custody, or
• Enters rehabilitation or respite/health/aged care and is required to pay a substantial part of their income >50% for that accommodation.

More information on Minimum Rent is available in the SCH Absence from Property policy.

Tenants will be informed of any changes to their rent via written communication (Including electronic communication).

V. Responsibilities

The Property Program Officer is responsible for reviewing Market Rent, encompassing a final review by the Chief Executive Officer.

The Access and Demand Team are responsible for reviewing Rebated Rent.