Eligibility and How To Apply

Eligibility for Community Housing is set out by the Office for Community Hosuing (formerly the South Australian Community Housing Authority or SACHA).

How do I determine eligibility for Community Housing ?

Basically, there are two stages to eligibility for community housing and they are:

1. Meeting Government base eligibility criteria for community housing
   and/or


2. Meeting specific eligibility criteria of the individual community housing organisation for which you have applied
   

To find out more about the different types of Community Housing Organisations available and some of their specific entry criteria, click on either Co-operative or Association links.

Does community Housing have a waiting list and how long do I have to wait?

Yes, every Community Housing Organisation is required to maintain a waiting list. Due to high demands for housing, there is a considerable waiting period before you may be housed.

Waiting lists vary with all Community Housing Organisations. Therefore, some housing providers may respond faster than others.

Generally though, an approximate time you can expect between applying for housing and for housing to become available is between 3-24 months. It may be longer depending on needs, eligibility criteria, selection criteria and availability of stock.

Is there a required age limit involved in attaining housing?

Generally there is no age limit involved with obtaining housing. However, individuals applying for housing may have to comply with certain eligibility criteria which co-operatives and associations are able to develop and enforce. You will need to comply with the eligibility criteria of the housing provider you are applying to in order to be eligible.

How is rent determined?

There are several ways that rent can be calculated. It is either at a percentage or a ceiling rent limit. These methods will be dependant on certain factors.

Generally, rent is based on the TOTAL household income. That is, all the income that is earned from individuals in one property. This may be calculated at the percentage of approximately 25% or a ceiling rent amount will be charged (Ceiling Rent is the name for the maximum amount of rent paid for a property). Tenants usually are required to pay the minimum of these two calculations.

Households with very low incomes (ie less than the basic rate of Newstart) will pay approximately 21% of their income in rent.

For information on your eligibility, please click here.

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