About Your Rent

Centrepay is a free service that allows rent to be deducted directly from your Centrelink payments.

NRH can set this up this for you (contact us), or you can set this up yourself via the Services Australia website: (https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/centrepay).

To set up a Centrepay Deduction you will need:

• Your Tenant Reference Code (you can find this in your Residential Tenancy Agreement or your Tenant Statement – contact us to request either of these documents).
• NRH’s Centrepay Reference Number: 555 012 631C
• Your Centrelink Reference Number (CRN).
• Your total deduction amount, inclusive of any additional agreed payment plans (e.g., water payments).

Set up a recurring transfer from your bank account.

• Your Tenant Reference Code (you can find this in your Residential Tenancy Agreement or your Tenant Statement – contact us to request either of these documents).
• Your total deduction amount, inclusive of any additional agreed payment plans (e.g., water payments).

Pay over the phone by contacting NRH (02) 6627 5300, or in person at an NRH office (see Contact Us).

Post or deliver to any NRH office (see Contact Us for postal address).

• Make payable to: North Coast Community Housing Company.
• Write your full name and address on the back.

Ask your Tenancy Manager for a deposit book to pay directly into NRH’s bank account.

The way your rent is set depends on whether you are in Social Housing or Affordable Housing.

• Affordable Housing: Rent is generally set at less than 80% of the market rent for the property.
• Social Housing: Rent is set at 25-30% of your gross household income, Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is calculated at 15% plus 100% of Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA).

Your rent is set according to the NSW Community Housing Rent Policy, which applies to all community housing providers.

Rent is capped at the Market Rent Value of the property and if you pay Market Rent your rent will only be reviewed annually. However, you are welcome to reach out to your Tenancy Manager at any time if your circumstances change and you believe you qualify for a Rental Subsidy Review.

Rent is calculated using the income and circumstances of everyone in the household, in line with the assessment rules from the NSW Community Housing Rent Policy.

Applicable to Social Housing tenants only

You must notify NRH within 14 days if:

• You or a household member’s income increases or decreases (e.g., more hours, pay rise, reduced hours).
• A new baby joins the household.
• A household member vacates.
• You start or stop receiving Centrelink benefits, child support, or maintenance payments.
• Your Centrelink pension changes to a different pension type of pension (e.g., Jobseeker to Disability Support Pension or Carers Payment).
• If you wish to add an additional occupant to your household, then you will be required to also complete the Application for Additional Occupant form and supply further identifying documentation (please note approval for this is required prior to anyone moving into the property).

Have changes to declare? Complete the online Application for Review of Rental Subsidy form.

Applicable to Social Housing tenants only

Rent is reviewed twice a year – in line with the NSW Rent Community Housing Rent Policy – so it stays fair, accurate, and aligned to your current circumstances.

The process is:

• NRH will issue you a Notice of Rent Review, requesting that you provide information on any changes to your household; it will also provide your current Market Rent Valuation.
• You must provide proof of income for all household members as well as any other changes to your Household, including the birth of babies etc. – unless you have signed up for the Income Confirmation Services (ICS).
• If you have opted into ICS, we can often complete the review automatically. However, if there have been any changes to the household you will be required to complete an Application for Review of Rental Subsidy form (included with your Notice of Rent Review letter).
• The date listed on the Notice of Rent Review letter is the date on which you are required to return the requested information. Failure to do so may result in the Market Rent being applied.

You’ll need to provide evidence of income twice a year so NRH can correctly calculate your rent:

Centrelink recipients

• Easier option (recommended): Sign an authority for NRH to confirm your details directly with Centrelink through the Income Confirmation Service (ICS). This means you do not need to provide income details every six months.
• Alternative option (if you don’t opt into ICS): You’ll need to request an Income and Assets Statement (and other required details) from Centrelink yourself and provide it to us when request for your rent review (6 monthly), and whenever your income and/or household changes.

Tenants in paid employment

• Provide 12 weeks of consecutive pay slips.
• Your most recent pay slip must be no more than 2 weeks old.

Self-employed Tenants

• Provide a Profit and Loss Statement signed by a qualified accountant.
• Include recent bank statements as proof of assets/savings.

If you receive Centrelink benefits, you may be eligible for CRA.

Please note: Centrelink is responsible for determining your CRA eligibility.

• Centrelink calculates your entitlement.
• NRH includes 100% of your CRA in your rent calculation.

To apply for CRA, Centrelink may ask you for:

• A copy of your Residential Tenancy Agreement (lease).
• A Tenant Statement (referenced below, and available by request from your Tenancy Manager).
• Or other evidence of your rental payments.

You can request a Tenant Statement from us at any time.

Your Tenant Statement will show:

• Tenant reference number.
• Full name and address.
• Current account balance.
• Rent, water, or any other charges applied by NRH (e.g., Tenant Responsible Maintenance).
• All the payments you have made since the start of your tenancy.
• Charges/payments from any previous NRH properties (if applicable).
• Rent Calculation history.

If you are finding it difficult to pay your rent or any non-rent charges (such as water bills), please contact your Tenancy Manager as soon as practicable (ideally before a missed payment).

Making early contact to let us know is very important.

• Tenants must remain 14 days in advance on rent payments (as per the NSW Residential Tenancy Act 2010). Non-Rent Charges are due 30 days after invoicing.
• Being even 1 day behind is considered rental arrears (a breach of your Tenancy Agreement).
• NRH will always aim towards working on a repayment arrangement with you as a first step to sustain your tenancy.

However, repeated failure to pay rent on time can put your tenancy at risk of termination.