Types of Service residences

There are different types of Services residences available to suit your lifestyle. 

You're usually eligible for a Service residence if you don't own a suitable home in your housing benefit location or family benefit location.

A suitable Service residence:

• is the right rent band for your rank
• has the right number of bedrooms for your family
• is available within 6 weeks of your arrival at the housing benefit location or your family's arrival at the family benefit location.

Depending on your needs, a Service residence could be a free-standing home, townhouse or apartment.

The rent band affects how much you pay as well as the number of bedrooms you have. 

Standard Service residences are homes for members who have one or more resident family members or recognised other persons. 

They're usually houses with yards, close to shops and schools. They include enough bedrooms for your family and may be modified to meet special housing needs.

A standard Service residence meets most families' needs. If it doesn't, you can apply for rent allowance or a rent band choice (RBC) home. 

Rent band choice (RBC) homes are for members who have one or more resident family members or recognised other persons. RBC homes are usually inner-city apartments or townhouses.

RBC homes suit families who want to live close to major amenities, like public transport, shopping centres and restaurants. Most have no garden or a small courtyard.

Member Choice Accommodation (MCA) is for single members and those living away from their families. They're usually inner-city apartments or townhouses near major amenities. You can choose to live alone or share it with up to 2 other members.

MCA suits members eligible for living-in accommodation (LIA) or rent allowance but prefer a Defence Housing Australia home. 

Appointment, tied and assigned residences are homes that relate to a role. When you take that role, you usually need to live there. You may live in an alternative home if it's suitable for you to perform your duties and is close to your work.

Appointment and tied residences usually relate to the most senior roles in the ADF.

Assigned residences are usually on base. They're for members who manage or maintain Defence facilities. For example, a Commanding Officer who manages a base.

You may also get an assigned residence when posted to certain remote locations.