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Income support

Setting the rent

At MCM Housing, our goal is to set the rental costs for our properties at a level that ensures affordability for young people. We strive to strike a balance where the rent amount allows us to continue providing housing that remains within your means.

Before offering you a tenancy, we will determine the market rent for the property and ask you some questions about your financial situation. We use this information to set the rent, so you will know in advance how much you’ll be expected to pay.

You can choose to pay your rent every week or every two weeks. If you get paid once a month, we'll make sure your rent payment fits with your monthly income. We want to make it easier for you to manage your rent payments.

How we determine your rent

In community housing, there are different ways to determine the rent you pay. At MCM Housing, we choose to set the rent based on whichever is lower:

  • Income-based rent: We consider your household income and set the rent accordingly. This ensures that the rent amount aligns with your financial situation.
  • 75% of benchmark market rent: We look at the market rent for similar properties and set the rent at 75% of that amount.

Additionally, when calculating the rent, we include any Commonwealth Rent Assistance you may be eligible for. This is a financial support program to assist with community housing rental costs. There is also an option to apply for a rental rebate, which is a sort of ‘discount’ off the market rent. If you want to know more about how to apply for a rental rebate, keep reading below for further information.

You can view our rent setting policy here.

Definitions

Rental rebate

If you’re applying for one of our properties, you have the option to apply for a discount called a rental rebate. This can help reduce the amount of rent you need to pay.

The rebate is calculated based on the percentage of the total assessable income of all household members compared to the market rent of the property.

If your application for a rental rebate is approved, your rent will be calculated using the following percentages:

  • 25% of your primary income
  • 15% of your secondary income
  • 100% of the eligible Commonwealth Rent Assistance you may receive

The rental rebate aims to make housing more affordable for individuals and families in social housing. To be eligible for the rental rebate, you need to file an application with us. 

Applying for a rental rebate

If you're interested in applying for a rental rebate, you'll need to prove you’re eligible based on your income. Our staff can access your Centrelink income statement if you sign the consent form allowing them to do so.

If you don't have access to Centrelink or you receive income from other sources, you'll need to provide evidence of your financial situation. This can include recent payslips from your job (at least three) and a recent bank statement that shows the money coming into your account.

It's important that each tenant signs the declaration at the end of the application form. Once you've sent us the form, our staff will assess your eligibility and contact you with the result. You'll receive a letter explaining the rental rebate you qualify for and how it has been calculated based on the information you provided.

Reviewing the rebate

We review rental rebates once a year or if there are changes in your income or household. This may affect the amount of rent you pay. If any changes occur, we’ll send you a letter informing you of the new cost. 

Additional charges

If you receive a rental rebate, there might be extra costs for services like water, heating, laundry, or other amenities that are provided to you. If this is the case, this will be explained to you at the time you are given information about what your rent charge is going to be.

If you have questions

It’s important to us that you understand how your rent is calculated and that it accurately reflects your household situation. If you’re feeling confused, please don't hesitate to reach out and ask us to explain your rent in more detail or in a different way. We can even recalculate your rent and guide you through the process if needed. 

If you want to get independent legal advice, these organisations are great resources that can provide further assistance:

Just let us know how we can support you!
Application process

Need help?

If you have any questions or would like more information, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you throughout the tenancy process.

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