Frequently Asked Questions

Southern Cross Housing

We believe that delivering quality, safe and affordable housing and ongoing stable rental agreements are essential to our tenants knowing that they are valued members of the community and part of the Southern Cross Housing family.

Who is eligible?

Our housing portfolio offers secure, supportive and affordable housing for seniors (over 55’s), people with disabilities and individuals with a persistent mental health disorder who meet the eligibility requirements. We will ask you to complete an Application for Rental Housing form so that we can get to know something about you, and if you are eligible.

Having somewhere affordable to live opens the door to many opportunities. SCH works in partnership with the Department of Communities to provide a home for those Western Australians who are on fixed, low and middle incomes, have completed a Department of Communities application form, and be on the joint waitlist (JWL). SCH finds the best fit for people on the JWL and properties available as set down by the Department of Communities.

Our target group are those over 55 who are on Benefits or low incomes. We do assist some younger tenants if they are on a Disability Support Pension, for example people who have a persistent mental health condition, or are physically or intellectually disabled, but able to live in the community with support from other agencies. Our tenancies are mostly in the Metro area of Perth.

All tenants are asked to sign a Residential Tenancy Agreement and are required to pay a security bond, and pet bond if applicable. Tenants can also apply for bond assistance with the Department of Communities.

Give us a call on 1300 669 189 and ask to speak to a Property Manager for further information, or email us on Housing@scrosswa.org.au.

Eligibility and Rent Review

How to pay your rent

Every tenant must sign a Residential Tenancy Agreement, the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and the Residential Tenancies Regulations 1989 apply to this agreement. Both you, the Tenant, and Southern Cross Housing as the owner (Lessor) must comply with these laws. By signing the Agreement you are agreeing to pay the required rent on time and in full, you would be in breach of your Agreement and your tenancy could be terminated if the rent is not paid. For further information refer to your Tenancy Agreement (page 4, Part B) or speak to your Property Manager who will explain this to you. Your Property Manager will take you through your Agreement before you sign it, and you will be given a copy of the Agreement to keep.

You can pay your rent in a number of ways. You can arrange to pay by Direct Debit or Direct Deposit directly to Southern Cross Housing, we will give you a Customer Number for easy reference for payments. You can also pay by Centrepay Deduction, where Centrepay will pay your rent for you directly from your pension to Southern Cross Housing. If you decide to use Centrepay we will ask you to complete an authorisation form for your consent and authority to access your Centrelink account and set up your rental payments.

At any time you can request a statement of account, your Property Manager is here to assist you at any time.

Review process

We will review your eligibility and rent annually as things tend to change over time, and by law, we cannot increase your rent any sooner than 6 months from when you started your tenancy. Your Agreement will show the start date of your periodic term at the top of page 2 – Term of Agreement – this is the date you signed your Agreement and were handed the keys. A periodic tenancy is one that does not have an end date, a fixed term tenancy is one where you have both a start date and an end date.

We will send you an Eligibility and Income Review form to complete. It is important to complete the form, sign it, and return it to Southern Cross Housing on the due date with the required documents. If we do not receive your documents your rent will increase to the maximum we can charge for your tenancy, but more importantly, we need to check you are still eligible for community housing. If your circumstances have changed it may be that you change from Band A to Band B, and if you no longer fit the eligibility criteria for either Band, we will give you 60 days notice and issue a Form 1C as per the Residential Tenancies Act (WA) 1987, s.71C.

Rents don’t always increase, sometimes they do go down depending on your income and assets.

How do we calculate your rent?

Rents are set in accordance with income and asset holdings of applicants who meet the eligibility criteria set by the Department of Communities. There are two ‘Bands’ A and B and as long as you fit the requirements, you will be eligible for community housing.

Rentals are calculated at 25% of income for Band A, and 30% of income for Band B, additionally, the majority of tenants are entitled to Commonwealth Rent Assistance. We work closely with the tenants, Centrelink and the Department of Communities to ensure our tenants get their correct entitlement.

Band A

Band A (income) for Metro and Country, single person or a couple (you can have the following income, and hold assessable assets as shown below, to be eligible for Band A):

Single Income (before tax): $470 per week ($24,518 annual income)

Couple (dual income before tax): $735 per week ($38,343 annual income)

Disability single: $590 per week ($30,778 annual income)

Disability couple: $920 per week ($47,993 annual income)

You may hold the following in assessable assets to be eligible for Band A:

Cash Asset Limit Single person: $38,400

Cash Asset Limit Couple (dual income): $63,800

Seniors 60 years plus (singles or couples): $80,000

Cash Asset Limit people with disabilities: $100,000

Band B

Band B (income) for Metro and South West, single person or a couple:

Single Income (after tax): $985 per week ($51,398 annual income)

Couple (dual income after tax): $1,362 per week ($71,061 annual income)

You may hold the following in assessable assets to be eligible for Band B:

Cash Asset Limit Single person: $332,000

Cash Asset Limit Couple (dual income): $412,500

Couple but separated due to illness (combined): $412,500

(Updated 16 March 2020 – Community Housing Income and Asset Limits (CHIAL) Policy 2020 – Department of Communities)

Here is an example of how rent is calculated for a single Tenant in a 1 Bed property (Band A):

Base Rent = $215 per fortnight (= 25% of before tax income based on Pension of $860.60) + $116.55 Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) = $343.80 rent payable per fortnight (maximum that can be charged is $280.00pf)

(Example updated 01/07/2020 with current rates)

Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) is a Commonwealth payment made to you for income support payments to assist in the payment of rent. CRA is counted as the maximum amount for which each applicant of a household is entitled. Go to humanservices.gov.au/Centrepay for more information about your CRA entitlement or call your local Centrelink Office.

Income and asset limits for those on a Disability pension, for both Band A and Band B, are slightly higher, ask to speak to a Property Manager if you need to know more.

What about a Bond?

If you are offered rental accommodation with SCH you will be asked to pay a Bond and two weeks’ rent in advance.. This is a Security Bond of four weeks’ rent that is held by the Bond Administrator and not SCH, and is refundable to you at the end of the tenancy. Sometimes the tenancy is not returned in good condition in which case only part of the Bond is returned and an amount returned to SCH to pay for any works required.

If you do not have the funds available for a Bond, you can apply directly to the Department of Housing for bond loan assistance and for the two weeks’ rent in advance. We will need a copy of your Bond Loan approval letter before we can sign you up.

We do allow pets in our tenancies, but some breeds of dog are not allowed so please check with a Property Manager. A Pet Bond is payable of $260 and this is again held with the Bond Administrator and not SCH, and is refundable to you at the end of the tenancy or if you no longer have a pet.

We are very happy to help and answer any questions you have about renting with Southern Cross Housing. Please call us on 1300 669 189 Monday to Friday and ask to speak to a Property Manager.

Things to know before you move in

Utility bills – who is responsible?

With regard to utilities that are separately metered, i.e. water, gas and electricity, the Tenant is required to pay for costs relating to the consumption of water, gas and electricity. The Tenant is to put the utilities in their name. The Service Charge for water is paid by Southern Cross Housing and the Tenant pays 100% of the water used (see page 3 of the Residential Tenancy Agreement – Water Usage Costs (Scheme Water).

If the tenancy does not have a separate meter for utilities e.g. it is a Strata building or complex– then a calculation will be entered on the Agreement to show the fee payable. These are reviewed annually.

We will ask you for your permission to contact the water services provider so that we can check accounts, ensure concessions have been applied for, and to check any possible leaks to the property (page 3 Residential Tenancy Agreement).

Property condition reports

A property condition report detailing the condition of the property will be completed and two copies are given to the Tenant within 7 days of moving in. If you disagree with any of the comments or findings note these and return the condition report to the Property Manager within 7 days of receipt. If the report is not returned it is taken that the report is a true and accurate description of the condition of the property. All reports are filed.

A final property condition report is completed at the end of the tenancy and provided to the tenant, within 14 days of the termination. It is preferable that the Tenant is present at the final inspection. See page 3 of the Residential Tenancy Agreement – Property Condition Reports.

Inspections

Under the Residential Tenancies Act (WA) 1987, s.46 Lessor’s right of entry – we may enter the property to conduct routine inspections, up to 4 in a 12 month period if necessary. Generally, we inspect a tenancy annually and will give you at least 7 days, but not more than 14 days’ written notice (Form 19) of when and at what time approximately we will arrive (see page 6 of the Residential Tenancy Agreement – Lessor’s access to the premises 24. 24.2. See also page 6, 26. For the definition of ‘reasonable time’. We are happy to negotiate a time and date if the scheduled day and time does not suit.

We are very happy to help and answer any questions you have about renting with Southern Cross Housing.

Please call us on 1300 669 189 Monday to Friday and ask to speak to a Property Manager.

Back to Southern Cross Housing

Frequently Asked Questions

Southern Cross Housing

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible?

Eligibility and Rent Review

How do we calculate your rent?

What about a Bond?

Things to know before you move in

We are very happy to help and answer any questions you have about renting with Southern Cross Housing.

Please call us on 1300 669 189 Monday to Friday and ask to speak to a Property Manager.

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