Rent allowance
You may not be able to get rent allowance if you rejected a Defence Housing Australia (DHA) offer of a suitable Service residence or chose to move out of one at the same location.
You may be able to get your rent allowance approved earlier if you meet the criteria for the Early Eligibility for Rent Allowance Trial.
If you’re getting rent allowance, you’ll pay the contribution as rent to your landlord, not to Defence. It won’t appear on your payslip as a deduction.
You're a Captain renting a 3-bedroom house with your family in Brisbane. The fortnightly rent you pay is $1,500.
Your fortnightly rent ceiling is $1,760.
Because your actual rent is lower than your rent ceiling, Defence uses that amount to calculate your rent allowance.
Your fortnightly contribution you must pay towards your rent is $804.94.
Your total fortnightly rent allowance is $695.06 ($1,500 – $804.94).
You’re a Sergeant renting an apartment on your own in Melbourne. The fortnightly rent you pay is $1,150.
Your fortnightly rent ceiling is $1,048.
Your fortnightly contribution you must pay towards your rent is $582.84.
Your total fortnightly rent allowance is $465.16 ($1,048 – $582.84).
Because your rent is higher than your rent ceiling, you’ll also need to cover the $102 difference when you pay your rent.
Temporary accommodation allowance
Suitable own home
If you don’t or can’t include a release clause in a lease, you must notify the Defence Housing Australia Regional Operations Manager.
Buying or selling a home
Once you get assistance to buy a home in your housing benefit location or family benefit location, you may not be eligible for any other housing assistance in that location while it’s a suitable own home.
HPAS assistance is payable only once during your service in the Permanent Forces. If your partner is also a member of the Permanent Forces, only one of you can use your HPAS payment towards a single home purchase.
HPSEA is only available if you have previously received HPAS.
You must be approved for DHOAS before applying for a home loan with a DHOAS-approved home loan provider.
Housing assistance for your unaccompanied resident family
If you own a suitable own home in your family benefit location, your URF may be expected to live in it, and you may not get housing assistance in this location.
Housing assistance for resident family or recognised other persons with special needs
Your resident family member and their needs must be recognised by Defence before you can get this assistance.
