It is the policy of Amélie Housing to:

  • Comply with all laws, funding agreements and Government guidelines regarding rent management in each jurisdiction where Amélie Housing manages tenancies
  • Ensure tenants understand Amélie Housing’s rent management procedures
  • Assist tenants to meet their obligations under their Residential Tenancy Agreement and to prevent them getting into rental arrears and placing their tenancy at risk
  • Achieve sustainable tenancies
  • Ensure that rents are affordable so that all properties remain accessible to people in financial housing stress and can be sustained by people on low and moderate incomes
  • Ensure that the calculation of rents and rental rebates are fair, easy to understand, non-discriminatory and consistent
  • Manage tenancies in a manner that maintains a balance between social and business objectives
  • Protect Amélie Housing’s rental income stream through early intervention against rental arrears
  • Demonstrate accountability through compliance with reporting requirements.

This policy applies to all staff, tenants and applicants of Amélie Housing.

Rent setting and rental rebates

Amélie Housing will set rent in accordance with legislation, the NSW Community Housing Rent Policy, other Government guidelines, or as determined by Amélie Housing’s own policies, whichever applies in each jurisdiction.

In South Australia, rent is charged in accordance with SA Housing Authority Rent Setting Policies for social housing, for general and supported tenants. The term ‘rent’ on the Residential Tenancy Agreement, refers to the market rent set for the property. Amélie Housing will determine the market rent based on the median rent for the relevant LGA according to the current Rent and Sales Report data, or equivalent to the actual rent paid for leasehold properties.

Amélie Housing will provide the tenant with a copy of the calculation of the rent and rental rebate at the time of signing the Residential Tenancy Agreement and will ensure that the tenant fully understands the method used.

Tenants can appeal decisions concerning their rent, rebate levels and their entitlement to a rebate using the Complaints and Appeals policy.

Amélie Housing will determine the rental rebate in compliance with the relevant guidelines for each funding program. All eligible tenants will receive Commonwealth Rent Assistance. 100% of Commonwealth Rent Assistance is taken into consideration when determining rents.

Rent Charging

Amélie Housing will calculate the amount of rent to be charged to the tenant on the household assessable income.

The NSW Community Housing Rent Policy specifies what is included in assessable income.

Assessable income includes:

  • Income from statutory payments
  • Wages or casual earnings.
  • Self-employment.
  • Any assessable supplement payment.

Any household member not eligible for a payment or who is eligible for a statutory payment will be charged rent based on the statutory allowance amount.

Calculating Rent

Rents are calculated as follows:

Rent Payable by a Tenant = (Percentage of household income and assets – Eligible Rental Subsidy Amount) + 100% Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

Paying Rent

Tenants are able encouraged to elect to pay their rent via Centrepay, a direct deduction system where rent payments are made directly to Amélie Housing each fortnight. Centrepay deductions are at no cost to the tenant. Tenants may also pay by Direct Deposit to Amélie Housing.

Rent reviews and eligibility for rental subsidy

Amélie Housing will conduct reviews of rental rebates (income reviews) twice annually or from time to time in situations where a tenant’s income changes frequently.  Amélie Housing will adjust rental rebates in a manner that is fair and consistent for all tenants and considers the impact of individual hardship or unusual circumstances.

Where a tenant’s situation may have changed, for example by obtaining employment since the allocation of housing, the tenancy will not be terminated but the rent payable will be altered.

If a tenant advises that their income has decreased and sufficient proof is provided, the reduced rebated rent will be calculated from the time of notification. If a tenant’s income has increased, written notice will be given of any increase in the rebated rent.

Amélie Housing will conduct a review of market rents every fourth income review, or every two years.

Where the market rent has changed from that shown on the tenant’s Residential Tenancy Agreement the tenant will be advised of their new rent.  If the market rent has decreased this will be effective immediately. A minimum of 64 days written notice is required of any increase in market rent.

Proof of income

To meet government requirements, tenants must supply proof of income. Proof of income must be in an original format and submitted on request.

Proof of income can be in the following formats:

  • Provided through the Income Confirmation Scheme for all Centrelink income support type payments.
  • Tenants and household members can give their Authority for Amélie Housing to access their income details in line with the Centrelink eService Terms and Conditions and Policy by completing the Tenancy – Income Confirmation Scheme consent authority form.
  • Payslips, letter or statement from the employer detailing gross wage, applicable tax, deductions, pay period and payee details for salary or wages.
  • Profit and loss statement completed by an accountant or a lodged taxation return with at least three-month business and personal bank statements for self-employed tenants and household members
  • Letter or statement from Overseas Government detailing the amount received for Foreign pensions, if not recorded through Centrelink.
  • Letter or statement from WorkCover or Insurance Company detailing the gross amount received.
  • Bank statements showing transaction details from all investment organisation/banks for all accounts held for the period specified for each household member aged 18 and over. Documents must not be more than 30 days old from the date they are given to Amélie Housing as part of a rent review.
  • and Centrelink income statements must be current showing the change in payments in line with the increase in CPI rates.
  • Tax returns may be from the previous financial year.

Bonds

Amélie Housing will charge each tenant a bond in accordance with the provisions of the Residential Tenancy Act 2010. The bond to be paid on commencement of the tenancy is 4 weeks of the subsidised rental amount.

Additional Payments

Tenants will pay for utilities, including water usage, where they are separately metered. There are no charges for shared households’ electricity, gas and telephone services where these services are connected in Amélie Housing name.

Amélie Housing will not charge tenants any other amounts (such as key deposits).

Management of rental arrears

Amélie Housing encourages tenants to meet their financial responsibilities through payment and maintenance of all required payments relating to their tenancy.

Amélie Housing will achieve this through:

  • Ensure tenants are aware of their financial responsibilities
  • Minimise rent arrears losses by weekly monitoring and follow up
  • Immediately inform the tenant in writing or by phone and discuss what action can be taken to resolve their arrears
  • Support the tenant to access financial inclusion and support services if they are experiencing financial hardship due to other circumstances
  • Take the most appropriate action to investigate and resolve the arrears depending on whether they are minor or actionable
  • Prevent future arrears by working with tenants who advise they are having problems making payment, or where arrears are anticipated
  • Be respectful, honest and helpful in responding to the tenant
  • Be sensitive to tenant’s circumstances, while encouraging the tenant to meet their obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act (2010).

Minor arrears

Amélie Housing will notify tenants about minor arrears at the earliest possible opportunity, to alert them to the fact that they are in arrears and give them an opportunity to pay the outstanding amount and keep their rent and non-rent accounts up to date.

The tenant will be informed in writing of the amount of arrears and the steps they can take to meet their obligations, and support services to assist them if required.

A minor arrears problem can become a breach of tenancy requiring NCAT action if it is not resolved quickly.

Actionable arrears

Amélie Housing   will always attempt to work with the tenant to resolve arrears before they become actionable at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)

When arrears become actionable, Amélie Housing:

  • May issue a notice of termination, prior to applying to NCAT for a formal listing before the Tribunal
  • Will seek a repayment plan, or a specific performance order to ensure rent is paid on time and arrears are resolved
  • May seek an order enforcing termination of tenancy where significant pattern of continuing arrears has been established, where repeated efforts to resolve the problem, including Tribunal action have not reached a satisfactory resolution.

Management of outstanding debts

Outstanding debts can include:

  • Non-payment of rent
  • Cost of tenant damage
  • Unpaid tenant debits
  • Non-rent account, e.g. water arrears

Amélie Housing will make every attempt to minimise bad debts by negotiating a repayment schedule with the tenant.  When a tenant with an outstanding debt or who has left with rent unpaid and the amount owing exceeds the amount of the claimable Rental Bond, Amélie Housing   will seek an order for repayment from NCAT.

Rental subsidy fraud

Amélie Housing provides a rental rebate to eligible tenants based on documentation supplied by the tenant. Amélie Housing takes all allegations of rental subsidy fraud seriously.

If Rental Subsidy Fraud is suspected or reported, Amélie Housing will:

  • Conduct an investigation to assess if rental subsidy fraud has occurred
  • Assess if non-disclosure of change of income circumstances has occurred
  • Assess if non-disclosure of change to household occupants has occurred
  • Assess if the rental subsidy is correct, or fraud cannot be reasonably proven and further action does not need be taken

Proven cases of rental subsidy fraud

Where rental subsidy fraud is proven Amélie Housing may:

  • Cancel the rent subsidy immediately for all affected persons (tenant and or household)
  • Take formal action to terminate the tenancy
  • Refer the issue to NSW Police for formal criminal investigation

Procedural fairness investigating cases of suspected rental subsidy fraud

Amélie Housing follows the principles of procedural fairness and natural justice when investigating alleged rental subsidy fraud.

In cases of rental subsidy fraud allegations, the tenant will:

  • Have the opportunity to know the basis of the allegations and
  • The evidence of those allegations
  • Be informed of the investigation process
  • Have the opportunity to attend an interview as part of the investigation process
  • Have the opportunity to engage with an advocate in responding to the allegations
  • Receive notice in writing of the findings of the investigation and actions to be taken

Complaints and Appeals

If a tenant is not satisfied with a service provided by Amélie Housing or does not agree with a decision it has made, they can ask for a formal review. To do this, the tenant can complete a review of decision form. Details on how to make a complaint, provide feedback or lodge an appeal are found in Amélie Housing Complaints and Appeals policy.

Additional information for NSW Tenants

If a tenant is unhappy with the outcome of an appeal to Amélie Housing, they can lodge an appeal Housing Appeals Committee. The Housing Appeals Committee is an independent agency that reviews certain decisions made by staff of Community Housing organisations and Housing NSW. For information on the Housing Appeals Committee call 1800 629 794 or go to www.hac.nsw.gov.au.

 

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