Information on rent policy changes
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The Queensland Government has changed the way rent is calculated for public housing households. The new rent changes promote a simpler calculation process, which is easier to understand, consistent and equitable. Rent is based on your household’s assessable income and will remain affordable.
The changes will occur between July 2005 and July 2007. Tenants have received information about the impact of these changes.
Why are these changes being made?
Many tenants had advised that the way rent was calculated was hard to understand and was sometimes inequitable. These changes will ensure that all rents are assessed in the same way, and in a way that is easier to understand.
First stage - July 2005
The changes that applied from the tenant's first scheduled rent review after July 2005 included:
- all public housing households pay a standard rate of 25% of their household’s assessable income as rent;
- household members under 25 contribute 10% of their assessable income towards rent (with the exception of tenants and their spouses);
- household members 25 and over pay the standard 25% of assessable income; and
- working household members benefit from an increase to the tax allowance scale which results in the assessment of their working income after tax.
Second stage - July 2006
The changes that apply from the tenant's first scheduled rent review after 3 July 2006 include:
- rent reviews will be performed annually instead of twice a year;
- some tenants who have incomes that are unlikely to change and experience automated rent reviews will be moved to a common rent review date; and
- households which have a member who enters the workforce will benefit from a guaranteed period of six months during which the household’s rent will not be increased because of the new working income.
When will these changes affect me?
The second stage of changes will come into effect at your first scheduled rent review after 3 July 2006. For example, if your rent review is due in September 2006, the changes will affect you at that time.
Where can I find more information?
If you require more information, please contact your nearest Department of Housing office. A 
print version (30Kb) of this information is also available.
Last updated 13 June 2006
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