Starting a Public Housing Tenancy in the NT - CatholicCare NT

Starting a public housing tenancy in the NT can be exciting, especially if you haven’t entered one before. To ensure you have the best possible experience it’s important to know what to expect.

Setting up your home

A bond is an amount of money paid in case any damage to the property occurs during your stay. It is required at sign up. The usual amount is equal to 2 weeks’ rent, 2 weeks rebated rent and 2 weeks rebated rent in advance. That is 6 weeks rent in total.

At the start of your tenancy, you will be put on a 3 months’ probation lease. Both you and your landlord can choose not to continue with the rental agreement in these 3 months. To check there is no damage, there will be a House Inspection at the end of the 3 months. After the probation period ends you will enter a ‘periodic lease’, which is an agreement that runs for an indefinite length of time; there is no set finishing date.

CatholicCare NT can support you with help to get your power connected and set up payment plans if you need them. We can also support you with furniture and general household items, as each home will be empty when you first arrive.

Repairs and maintenance

Here are 3 top things to remember:

• You must always report repairs when needed. This includes things like leaking taps, a broken stove or fans not working.

• Be sure not to have too many visitors. Lot’s of guests can overcrowd a home, resulting in more noise than usual, this can encourage neighbours to make complaints.

• Your outside space must be looked after, especially during the Wet Season when gardens can easily become overgrown.

Worries and doubts

If you have never been in a tenancy before or have become worried about something related to your home, we can help.

CatholicCare NT can support with:

• Everything concerning your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.
• Life skills training, such as how to maintain your home.
• Financial support services.
• Support with rental rebate documentation.
• Support in gaining household goods and furniture.

Getting support when you need it is one of the most important steps you can take. Our friendly staff are happy to help, and understand the challenges of renting.

For more information, the government have a fantastic resource that can be accessed here:
https://nt.gov.au/property/public-housing