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National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS)

What is the NRAS?

The National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) aims to:

  • reduce rental costs for low to medium income households
  • increase the number of affordable rental houses

Eligibility

You can quickly check your eligibility for the scheme using the NRAS Eligibility Checker.

You must meet all the requirements below to be eligible to rent under NRAS in Queensland.

  • You must:
    • be an Australian citizen
    • have permanent residency
      or
    • have a Temporary Protection visa XA visa subclass 785 or a Temporary Protection visa XC visa subclass 785.
  • You must be a Queensland resident or provide evidence of your need to move to Queensland.
  • You or your household members must not own or part-own property in Australia or overseas. This includes:
    • residential or commercial property
    • land
    • mobile homes or caravans that are permanently connected to utilities.
  • Your money in bank accounts, shares and investments (including superannuation payouts) must not exceed:
    • $141,500 for a single person
    • $180,500 for 2 or more household members.
  • Your household’s annual gross income must not be more than the income limits below.

Household income

Income limits apply to the total income of a household, not to individuals within the household.

Your household income cannot be more than the applicable income limit when you:

  • apply for NRAS registration (initial limit), or
  • are approved for an NRAS property (initial limit), or
  • upon annual review of your current and/or ongoing eligibility (upper limit).

The following amounts are used to calculate initial income limits. You can also use them to calculate NRAS eligibility for household types not listed below:

  • First single adult: $61,322
  • Each additional adult: $23,460
  • Each child: $20,343
  • First sole parent: $64,498
  • Independent minor: $61,322

Income limits

Select your household type to see the initial and upper income limits.

|
  • At the start of your tenancy: $61,322.
  • During your tenancy: $76,653.
  • At the start of your tenancy: $84,782.
  • During your tenancy: $105,978.
  • At the start of your tenancy: $108,242.
  • During your tenancy: $135,303.
  • At the start of your tenancy: $131,702.
  • During your tenancy: $164,628.

Tenants renting a property through the scheme may be eligible for Commonwealth Rent Assistance, subject to the normal Services Australia eligibility criteria.

How to register

You must complete the NRAS Eligibility Checker before registering for NRAS.

Check your eligibility

If you are eligible, click Continue at the bottom of the page to complete the application form online.

If you are unable to complete the online application, contact us on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) and we will send you a hard copy of the form.

You can also download a printable version:

Send your completed application, with attachments, to us by:

  • email: nras@housing.qld.gov.au
  • mail:
    Registration Officer
    National Rental Affordability Scheme
    Department of Housing and Public Works
    GPO Box 690
    Brisbane QLD 4001

Existing public housing applicants

The application process for NRAS is separate from the public housing application process.

Approved public housing applicants need to submit a separate application to register for NRAS.

Application results

Once your application is assessed, we will notify you via email or mail.

If your application is unsuccessful, we will tell you why you are not eligible. You can appeal this decision.

Your nearest Housing Service Centre can help you find another rental home or access other kinds of housing support.

Applying for and renting a property through the scheme

If your registration is successful, you can apply for a place to rent under the scheme.

To find an NRAS home for rent in your preferred area, search:

Alternatively, you can search for ‘NRAS properties for rent’   in your internet browser.

The NRAS tenancy manager for a property is responsible for collating written evidence of your initial and ongoing eligibility and they will decide which registered applicants are offered tenancies.

We are not involved in the management of these tenancies.

Yearly rent increases for scheme properties are generally capped at the rental component of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

NRAS tenants may be eligible for rent assistance through Services Australia.

Contact us

Last updated:
5 November 2024
Last reviewed:
23 July 2024
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