Pay my rent

How and when to pay rent
How is my rent calculated?
Social housing rents
Affordable housing rents
Income changes
Rent statements online
Rent review

Call the Housing Team on 8324 0885 if you are having trouble paying your rent. It is never too late and we can help you to get back on track.

How and when to pay rent

Bridge Housing charges rent to tenants on a weekly basis. All tenants must be two weeks in advance at all times to comply with their Residential Tenancy Agreement.

Bridge Housing tenants are encouraged to keep their rent account in advance at all times. By doing this, tenants will avoid the risk of owing debt.

Bridge Housing offers a range of ways for tenants to pay their rent:

Use Centrepay to make regular deductions from your Centrelink payment. Centrepay is a voluntary and easy payment option available to Centrelink customers.
Go to www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/centrepay for more information on how to set up your Centrepay deuctions.
Online - Pay your rent online securely through here
Direct deposit – pdf learn more about how to set this up (275 KB)
EFTPOS - over the phone or by visiting the Bridge Housing office

pdf Read Paying Your Rent factsheet (275 KB) .

What Do I Do If My Rent Has Changed Factsheet

How is my rent calculated?

The rent you are charged and how it is calculated depends on whether your tenancy is managed under a social or an affordable housing program.

Social housing rents

Bridge Housing provides a rental subsidy to eligible households living in social housing. Bridge Housing charges rent in accordance with the NSW Community Housing Rent Policy.

The amount of rent you are charged depends on your individual and household circumstances. In general, tenants are charged between 25% and 30% of the household’s income plus 100% of their Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) entitlement.

Read Rent Policy

Read How we calculate your rent brochure

Read How we calculate your rent factsheet

Affordable housing rents

Affordable housing is housing that is appropriate for the needs of a range of very low to moderate income households who are working. In general, housing is usually considered affordable if it costs less than 30% of a household’s gross income.

Bridge Housing manages a number of affordable housing properties under differing rent setting arrangements. In general rent is charged at 74.9% – 80% of the market rent for the area.

For tenants in affordable housing properties, an income eligibility review will be conducted annually to ensure tenants are eligible for the program prior to resigning a lease agreement.

Market rent for affordable housing properties is reviewed annually according to program requirements and tenant’s rents charged accordingly.

Read our Affordable Housing Policy.

Income Changes

All tenants must notify Bridge Housing of any change in household income and/or family circumstances within 21 days of the change. Bridge Housing will then reassess your rent subsidy entitlement and/or eligibility based on this change.

Once your rent has been calculated, Bridge Housing will write to you and confirm your new rent charge and you will need to change your rent payments.

If you receive Centrelink payments you will also need to advise Centrelink of your change in income and/or family circumstances so your payments and Commonwealth Rent Assistance payments are reviewed.

Read our Changes to a Household factsheet.

Refunds:

For enquiries in relation to refunds of overpaid rent or charges, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact our office on 02 8324 0800.