If you’re having trouble with housing costs as a renter or owner, there are supports available to you.
The cost of housing is incredibly high in Australia. In some parts of the country, it’s completely unaffordable. Housing stress is not the fault of any person struggling to pay their rent or mortgage repayments – it can result from a range of factors including interest rates, inflation, lack of secure employment or just the ever-increasing cost of living.
If you’re having trouble with housing costs, your options for help include free legal advice, government support, payment plans, and social housing.
Renting stress
If you get a ‘notice of eviction’
There are strict laws in each state and territory to ensure that eviction is the absolute last resort. Eviction can only take place if the landlord has taken a series of steps over a set period of time – including giving a proper form of notice and a legal hearing. You can find out what to expect at the links below.
States and territories
| National | National Debt Helpline |
| Australian Capital Territory | Canberra Community Law |
| New South Wales | Tenants’ Union of NSW |
| Northern Territory | Darwin Community Legal Service |
| Queensland | Tenants Queensland (PDF) |
| South Australia | Government of South Australia |
| Tasmania | Tenants’ Union of Tasmania |
| Victoria | Tenants Victoria |
| Western Australia | Circle Green Community Legal (PDF) |
Tenants’ rights and support groups
Whether it’s leases, bonds, condition reports, or because something has gone wrong with your rental property, there are support organisations who can help you. Their services vary in each state and territory.
Reasons to ask for help may include when:
- you can’t afford rent due to financial hardship (when you don’t have enough income to meet your expenses)
- you have not got your bond back
- your rent has been raised unexpectedly
- you are in a dispute with your landlord.
What support look can look like:
- advocacy on your behalf
- referrals to free legal services.
State and Territory help for tenants
| Australian Capital Territory | Legal Aid ACT |
| New South Wales | Tenants’ Union of NSW |
| Northern Territory | Darwin Community Legal Service |
| Queensland | Tenants Queensland |
| South Australia | RentRight SA |
| Tasmania | Tenants’ Union of Tasmania |
| Victoria | Tenants Victoria HousingVic Dear Landlord by Justice Connect |
| Western Australia | Circle Green Community Legal |
For specific information for older renters, you might like to visit the Housing for the Aged Action Group website.
Mortgage stress
If you get a notice of repossession
Repossession is the last resort of a lender when you’re not able to make payments on your mortgage (home loan). By law, a series of steps must be followed first and you have options to prevent repossession at every step.
Get legal advice early
The earlier you seek legal advice, the more options you could have. Importantly, there’s no need to wait until you’ve been threatened with repossession to get help, you can reach out at any time.
📌 See our free legal services page.
Learning about repossession
The Financial Rights Legal Centre has prepared a comprehensive fact sheet on the repossession process, including details of your options at each step.
Understanding mortgage stress
Mortgage stress has a few different definitions. To put it simply – if you’re struggling to pay your mortgage while keeping up with other life expenses, you might say you’re experiencing mortgage stress. Even if this isn’t an issue for you right now, an unexpected expense could be all it takes for you to experience mortgage stress.
What you can do about mortgage stress
There are options available that may ease the pressure. Long before your lender sends a repossession notice or you decide to sell your property, possible options might include:
- applying for a mortgage hardship variation from your lender
- extending the length of the loan
- reducing your payments to the minimum
- consolidating your debts
- considering an offset account to help reduce the interest you pay
- learning about accessing your super to pay your debt obligations.
📌 See our understanding superannuation and loans and debt pages.
Here’s more information on dealing with mortgage stress:
| Resource | Organisation |
| Apply for early release of superannuation | National Debt Helpline |
| Mortgage stress handbook | NSW Legal Aid |
| Steps for taking care of mortgage debt | National Debt Helpline |
| Steps to avoid repossession | Financial Rights Legal Centre |
| Requesting a hardship variation | Financial Rights Legal Centre |
| Keeping your mortgage on track | Moneysmart |
| Problems paying your mortgage | Moneysmart |
Getting financial support
Whether you’re renting or paying off your home, there are many organisations and government agencies that offer financial support.
Government support payments
Centrelink
The Australian Government provides income support payments through Centrelink. You can use this tool to learn about your eligibility for payments, or go to Services Australia to learn more about the services and support they offer.
Dealing with Centrelink
Many people find dealing with Centrelink difficult. Applying for payments can be confusing. Most payments are set too low and have overly strict requirements.
📌 See our dealing with Centrelink page.
State and territory housing assistance programs
| Australian Capital Territory | Rent relief fund |
| New South Wales | Accessing private rental assistance |
| Northern Territory | Affordable rental properties for key service workers |
| Queensland | Financial help with renting |
| South Australia | Private rental assistance program |
| Tasmania | Private rental assistance |
| Victoria | Financial help for private renters |
| Western Australia | Rental assistance options |
No Interest Loans
No Interest Loans (NILs) allow you to borrow money to help you get back on your feet without having any of the crippling interest or high fees that come with other forms of loans.
How does it work?
NILs are typically offered for up to $2,000-$3,000 for rent or bond, essentials like fridges, washing machines, furniture, kitchenware, medical expenses, car repairs, education fees, and other goods and services you might need to get back on your feet.
There are certain rules around who can apply for NILs. Generally you must:
- have a Health Care Card, a Pensioner Concession Card (or an income less than $45,000 per year after tax)
- have lived at your current address for more than three months
- show that you can repay the loan
Who provides NILs?
The No Interest Loan Scheme is one of the financial services provided by Good Shepherd Microfinance. You can find providers over at the Good Shepherd website.
Practical help through the ‘Ask Izzy’ resource
Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with everyday necessities, housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and more all around Australia. It’s free and anonymous. If you’re on the Telstra or Vodafone mobile networks, you can access Ask Izzy on your phone even if you don’t have credit or access to wifi.
Do you qualify for social housing?
The states and territories of Australia run ‘affordable’ housing programs for people on low incomes. These are typically called ‘social housing’ and are key government policy to make sure that people have safe and secure housing to live in – especially those who have recently experienced homelessness, family violence or have other special needs.
Waiting lists
In every state and territory, the supply of social housing is very low, and there are many people waiting to find a place. Unfortunately, this means that waiting lists can be very long.
Do you still need to pay rent in social housing?
When in social housing you still need to pay rent, but it is usually limited to a percentage of the market rate for an equivalent rental property, or a percentage of your income.
State and territory social housing information
| Australian Capital Territory | Types of housing |
| New South Wales | Applying for social housing |
| Northern Territory | Public housing information and applications |
| Queensland | Public and community housing |
| South Australia | Public and community housing |
| Tasmania | Housing Connect |
| Victoria | Social housing |
| Western Australia | Public housing |
| Community housing |
This information was last updated 5 June 2023.
The links and resources in this article have been compiled and reviewed by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence. We aren’t responsible for what you’ll find at the links, though we do hope you find the information useful. See our disclaimer if you’d like to know more.
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