National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS)
Information for prospective tenants
The National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) aims to:
- reduce rental costs for low to medium income households
- increase the number of more affordable rental houses.
Am I eligible to rent under the scheme?
To become a registered prospective tenant under the NRAS in Queensland, you must meet all of the requirements listed below.
- You must be an Australian citizen, have permanent residency or have Temporary Protection visa XA visa subclass 785 or 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 $135,937 for a single person, or $173,375 for 2 or more household members.
- Your proposed household’s combined annual gross income must not exceed the following limits:
- 1 adult:
- At commencement of NRAS tenancy initial income limit must not exceed $58,905.
- During NRAS tenancy upper income limit must not exceed $73,631.
- 2 adults:
- At commencement of NRAS tenancy initial income limit must not exceed $81,441.
- During NRAS tenancy upper income limit must not exceed $101,801.
- 3 adults:
- At commencement of NRAS tenancy initial income limit must not exceed $103,977.
- During NRAS tenancy upper income limit must not exceed $129,971.
- 4 adults:
- At commencement of NRAS tenancy initial income limit must not exceed $126,513.
- During NRAS tenancy upper income limit must not exceed $158,141.
- Sole parent with 1 child:
- At commencement of NRAS tenancy initial income limit must not exceed $81,498.
- During NRAS tenancy upper income limit must not exceed $101,873.
- Sole parent with 2 children:
- At commencement of NRAS tenancy initial income limit must not exceed $101,039.
- During NRAS tenancy upper income limit must not exceed $126,299.
- Sole parent with 3 children:
- At commencement of NRAS tenancy initial income limit must not exceed $120,580.
- During NRAS tenancy upper income limit must not exceed $150,725.
- Couple with 1 child:
- At commencement of NRAS tenancy initial income limit must not exceed $100,982.
- During NRAS tenancy upper income limit must not exceed $126,228.
- Couple with 2 children:
- At commencement of NRAS tenancy initial income limit must not exceed $120,523.
- During NRAS tenancy upper income limit must not exceed $150,654.
- Couple with 3 children:
- At commencement of NRAS tenancy initial income limit must not exceed $140,064.
- During NRAS tenancy upper income limit must not exceed $175,080.
- 1 adult:
To calculate NRAS eligibility for household types not identified above, please use the information below.
- First single adult: $58,905
- Each additional adult: $22,536
- Each child: $19,541
- First sole parent: $61,957
- Independent minor: $58,905
Income levels above are assessed on the total income for a household, not individuals within the household.
Household income cannot exceed the initial income limit at the time of applying.
If your income exceeds the upper income limit for your household type for 2 consecutive eligibility years, you will no longer be eligible for the scheme.
Generally, yearly rent increases for scheme properties are capped at the rental component of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Tenants renting a property through the scheme may be eligible for rent assistance, subject to the normal Services Australia eligibility criteria.
Please note: NRAS in Queensland will conclude by 30 June 2025. Following the Australian Government’s decision in 2014 to discontinue NRAS once incentives expire, the remaining NRAS rental homes in Queensland will exit the scheme by mid-2025.
The Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works encourages all current NRAS tenants to seek assistance from their local RentConnect officer up to 12 months before the NRAS incentive expires.
The department offers social housing for eligible customers, and a suite of products and services to assist people to secure and sustain an alternative private rental home or get on the pathway to owning their own home. Please refer to your nearest Housing Service Centre.
How to register
To register, complete the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) tenant application form or contact 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
Alternatively, you can download a printable version:
Then send your completed application, with attachments, to us by either:
- email: nras@housing.qld.gov.au
- mail:
Registration Officer
National Rental Affordability Scheme
Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works
GPO Box 690
Brisbane QLD 4001
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for a place to rent under the scheme. You can find properties currently available in Queensland by visiting National Rental Affordability Scheme Properties for Rent on realestate.com.au.
The NRAS tenancy manager for a property will select which registered applicants are offered tenancies.
The department has no involvement in the management of these tenancies.
Existing public housing applicants
Approved public housing applicants will need to apply again to be considered for rental accommodation under the scheme.
If you are already on the housing register and unable to complete the online application, contact us on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) to be issued with a hard copy form.
Application results
You will receive written notification via email or mail once your application for registration has been assessed.
Unsuccessful applicants will be provided with the reason/s for not meeting the eligibility and may appeal the decision.
More information
Contact us
- Email: nras@housing.qld.gov.au
- Phone: Housing Services - 13 QGOV (13 74 68)