Rent Allowance
Rent Allowance subsidises the cost of renting a property in the private rental market. If you are approved for Rent Allowance you will need to find a suitable property for which you will be responsible for paying the rent to the landlord or agent.
The steps below are designed to explain Rent Allowance entitlements, the administrative processes that support Rent Allowance and your responsibilities as a recipient of Rent Allowance. You should not sign any leasing documentation for a rental residence until you have read the guidelines which are outlined in more detail in the Rent Allowance Guide.
The Rent Allowance provisions described in this guide are specified in the Defence Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN), Chapter 7.
For enquiries regarding your entitlements, please contact your local Defence Housing Australia (DHA) Housing Management Centre (HMC).
Step 6 – Notify DHA when you plan on vacating
When you no longer require Rent Allowance, you must complete a Cease Rent Allowance form and provide your final rent receipt to DHA.
NOTE: Both of these documents are needed for DHA to cease your Rent Allowance in the Defence ADFPAY system. If you do not provide these documents you could incur a debt to the Commonwealth. Please note that submission of removal documentation does not automatically cease your Rent Allowance.
What if I pay rent after I moved out or I have to break my lease?
Where it is necessary to break the lease for service reasons that are beyond your control (e.g. being posted before your lease expires), and you have a legal obligation to continue paying rent after vacating the residence, you may be entitled to reimbursement of the rent paid after vacation (up to your approved rent ceiling). Refer to the Rent Allowance Guide for more detail.
What about just moving residence in locality?
If you receive Rent Allowance for one property and you are moving to a new property, a notification of housing change form must be submitted if not using a Defence removal via Toll Transitions.
If you are MWD:
- Four to six weeks before your lease expires please Contact DHA to determine if a Service Residence is available.
- If there are no suitable Service Residences available then DHA can approve your continued Rent Allowance entitlement and you can then renew your lease.
The Rent Allowance guide provides basic information about this housing entitlement, refer to your DHA Consultant for more detail.
The FAQ may help you in understanding the process surrounding Rent Allowance in particular circumstances.