Service residences are subsidised homes for members and their families. Defence Housing Australia (DHA) offers Service residences on or near ADF bases around the country.
Defence reviews housing contributions each year to reflect market changes.
Eligibility for a Service residence
You can usually live in a Service residence if you don't have a suitable own home in your housing benefit location. The home you can get depends on your family make up and rent band.
Your unaccompanied resident family may be eligible to live in a Service residence in the family benefit location.
DHA Online services will show you homes in your rent band. It may also show you homes one rent band higher or lower. You can choose one of these if it better suits your needs. This will affect how much you pay.
If there are no Service residences available in your rent band, you can apply for rent allowance instead.
Owning a home in your posting location may affect your eligibility for a Service residence. If DHA decide your home is suitable, you can't get a Service residence.
Number of bedrooms
Your family make up, their age and gender determine how many bedrooms you get.
You and your partner share a room.
Each child usually gets their own room. Up to 2 children will have to share a room if they:
- are in year 6 or under
- are of the same gender
- have an age gap of less than 4 years.
If you have an adult resident family member or recognised other person who isn't your partner, they get their own room.
An adult between the ages of 21 and 25 can get their own room if:
- immediately before turning 21 they were your resident family
- since turning 21 they have continued to live with you or an adult who's your resident family.
Options for families who have special needs
You can choose a Service Residence with features that suit your resident family member or recognised other person's special needs. Defence may also pay to modify your home to be more suitable.
For example, Defence may:
- install ramps at the front and back door
- replace a shower door with a curtain
- remove carpet.
You need to get the special needs recognised first.
If you're being posted and the available Service residences aren't suitable for your family's needs, you can rent a home in the private market and apply for rent allowance.
Find out more about DHA special needs housing.
Pets in a Service residence
Pets can live with you in a Service residence. They must be:
- domestic animals
- not owned for business or commercial purposes
- allowed by the body corporate (strata rules)
- allowed by local or state government regulations.
Before you reserve a Service residence, check Online services to see if pets are allowed. Sometimes you'll have to contact DHA to find out.
Make sure the home is practical for your pet. For example, check the yard is big enough and the fences are high enough.
If you're moving to a new posting location, find out about claiming costs to relocate your pet.