Public housing fact sheets
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The Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness Services) housing programs
Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness Services) offices (30Kb)
The department has a number of offices throughout Queensland.
Housing assistance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (175Kb)
The department has a range of services to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to find secure and affordable housing.
Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (39Kb)
Contact details of your nearest Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service office.
Applying for housing assistance
Applying for housing assistance (36Kb)
Where do you get an application form? What happens after you reply? What happens at the interview?
Eligibility for housing assistance (36Kb)
The department provides housing assistance to those in most need. You must meet all of the eligibility criteria to receive assistance.
Housing entitlements (40Kb)
What are you entitled to?
Waiting for social housing (36Kb)
When you are accepted for social housing, your name is placed on the housing register according to your level of housing need.
Being offered housing assistance (33Kb)
This fact sheet provides information on what to do once you have received an offer of housing assistance.
Housing assistance for children in need of protection (32Kb)
Information on the referral for housing assistance from Child Safety Services for a child in need of protection.
Housing assistance for people exiting correctional facilities (30Kb)
This fact sheet provides information on the social housing assessment processes for people exiting correctional facilities.
Housing assistance for people with disabilities (36Kb)
People with a disability can be housed through the department’s housing assistance program.
Housing with Shared Support (29Kb)
This fact sheet provides information on Housing with Shared Support which is a form of housing assistance for people with disability support needs.
Prior debts with the Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness Services) (29Kb)
This fact sheet provides information for clients with prior debts with the department.
Income Confirmation Service (33Kb)
For those people who wish to participate in the Income Confirmation Service, it will allow the department to directly communicate with Centrelink to receive your income and asset details.
Obtaining your personal information (30Kb)
You can request access to departmental documents that contain your personal information through either a request through legislation (Right to Information and/or Information Privacy Acts) or the Administrative Access process.
Guardians and Administrators (31Kb)
Information for Guardians who manage the daily affairs of an adult who has impaired decision making capacity and Administrators who manage their financial, legal and property affairs.
How to appeal (39Kb)
Most decisions made by the department regarding housing services can be appealed. If you have discussed your concerns with department staff but remain unsatisfied with the decision presented to you, you can appeal this decision using the appeals process.
Living in a departmental property
Moving in checklist (51Kb)
Use this checklist to let everyone know you've moved to a new address.
Pets in social housing (35Kb)
The keeping of pets in any departmental property must comply with Local Government local laws.
Periodic tenancy reviews (28Kb)
A periodic tenancy review is when the department reviews your circumstances to determine if your household has a continued need for housing assistance.
Your rent (35Kb)
Information on how the department works out your rent.
How to pay your rent (32Kb)
Information on your options for paying your rent.
How to read a rental statement (58Kb)
Information on how to read your Housing and Homelessness Services rental statement.
How to work out your rent (34Kb)
How does the department calculate rent?
Rent arrears (28Kb)
Information on how the department manages rent arrears.
Breaches (35Kb)
The department provides a supportive tenancy management service to assist tenants to successfully sustain their tenancies.
Ongoing eligibility for housing assistance (30Kb)
The Ongoing Eligibility policy has been introduced to determine the ongoing housing need of tenants who have improved their circumstances during their tenancy with the department, and who may now have alternatives other than social housing.
Tenancies in reviewable properties (24Kb)
This fact sheet provides information on the department’s introduction of tenancies in reviewable properties for tenants who live in social housing properties with access for people who use wheelchairs, or have five or more bedrooms and were built to house large families.
Transfers (29Kb)
Tenants in departmental properties in Queensland may apply for a transfer to another property. Applications are considered based on certain conditions.
Mutual exchanges (swaps) (27Kb)
Departmental tenants can apply for approval to exchange properties with other tenants.
Relocation assistance for tenants (35Kb)
This fact sheet provides information on the relocation assistance offered by the department when tenants are asked to relocate to another property.
Succession of tenancy (31Kb)
A succession of tenancy occurs when there is a change to the legal tenant/s of a property on the State Tenancy Agreement.
Temporary absence from your property (36Kb)
Tenants can apply to be temporarily absent from their property if they obtain the department's prior written approval.
Neighbours (29Kb)
There are five types of neighbourhood disputes ranging from minor everyday disruptions to serious conflicts.
Visitors at your property (28Kb)
Visitors can stay in social housing properties however there are conditions.
The Tenant Participation Program (30Kb)
The program encourages social housing tenants to participate in the decisions affecting their homes and local communities.
Maintaining a departmental property
Damage to your property (28Kb)
What to do if your property is damaged.
Maintenance Call Centre Fact Sheet (82Kb)
A Call Centre has been established to take property maintenance requests from clients in the Greater Brisbane area and 34 Indigenous Councils.
Maintenance of your property (37Kb)
The department is responsible for maintaining all standard inclusions in your home.
Maintenance hints (34Kb)
This fact sheet provides tenants with some hints on how to maintain their property.
Water in your property and your health (34Kb)
Water is an important natural resource and should be used with care and consideration for our environment.
Water saving hints (36Kb)
Water is a precious and increasingly scarce resource. We need to be careful about the way we use it. Here are some simple ways you can help conserve this precious resource.
New telephone service connection fees (23Kb)
Information on connecting telephones to your rental property.
Asbestos (34Kb)
This fact sheet provides information for tenants living in a property that may contain asbestos.
Bathboards (43Kb)
The department recognises the need to tailor services to meet the individual needs of people with disabilities.
Car parking in multi-dwelling complexes (24Kb)
If you live in a multi-dwelling complex, you need to be aware of some regulations regarding the car parks provided.
Fire ants (31Kb)
Fire ants have been found in a number of places within Queensland. Each property in an infested area must be treated by Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries to eradicate the fire ant.
Lead-based paint (34Kb)
This fact sheet provides information for tenants about lead-based paint in departmental properties.
Ending a tenancy with the department
Moving out checklist (49Kb)
What should I do now that I want to move out of my home?
Leaving social housing (31Kb)
If you decide to end your tenancy with the department, you need to be aware of your obligations under the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 before you leave.
Sales to Tenants (158Kb)
Should I buy my public rental home? What do I need know?
Fact sheets in languages other than English
Last updated 12 October 2009
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