How it works

Your rent subsidy is the difference between the rent you pay, based on your household’s assessable income, and the market rent for the property.
Your rent subsidy is the Queensland Government’s contribution to providing affordable rents for Queenslanders in need.

An example of a household rent and subsidy:

If the weekly market rent for the property is: ………………..$185.00
If your weekly rent (based on household income) is:……..$ 85.00
Your weekly household rent subsidy is:………………………….$100.00

Reviewing your rent and how much rent subsidy you receive

We regularly review all household income to assess your rent subsidy and how much rent your household pays. You will pay either 25% of your household’s assessable income as rent or the market rent for the property, whichever is lower.

Providing your income details using the Income Confirmation Service

• You can join the Income Confirmation Service (ICS) which allows us to obtain your income information directly from Centrelink. The service allows us to obtain the same details as currently provided on your Centrelink Income Statement without you needing to provide us with this
  information. If you have additional income, for example wages, we will ask you to provide evidence of this income to complete your rent review.
• If you don’t join the ICS, we will send you a letter asking you to provide evidence of all income received by everyone in your household. To join the ICS, please complete an authority form which is available from your nearest Housing Service Centre or from the department’s website: www.hpw.qld.gov.au

Your rent review letter will list the income evidence required and the due date you must supply this information to the department. You will have 28 days to return your income evidence. It is important that you return your household information by the due date otherwise you will lose your rent subsidy and must pay the market rent for the property.

When your rent subsidy is removed

Tenants must provide information to the department about their household’s income and assets so their rent can be assessed. If you don’t supply the required evidence by the due date:

• Your rent subsidy will be removed and you must pay the market rent for the property.
• Your household will no longer be eligible for any cap to your rent that you may have received with the changes to rent policy in July 2014. When you do return the requested evidence of your household’s income, your rent will be calculated at the full 25% of your household’s assessable income, or the market rent, whichever is lower.
• Your household will be ineligible for ongoing housing assistance and you may be asked to vacate the property.

For more information please contact us using details below.