Apply for public or community housing

Public housing and community housing is for renters on a low income. Check what proof you need to apply and submit your application.

Before you start

Types of housing you can get

Public and community housing is in units and houses in suburbs across the ACT.

Documents you'll need to apply

You’ll need documents to prove:

You must give us these documents for everyone aged 16 and above who will live with you and be on the lease. Children under 16 who are on the lease will need ID.

We cannot assess your application without these documents.

Documents you might need

You’ll need to give us proof if you or someone listed on your application has medical needs, health issues or disabilities.

After you apply, you have 28 days to give us these documents.

You can give us documents or letters from a support service, medical professional or doctor.

The document or letter must explain:

• your condition
• how it affects your capacity to work or find suitable housing
• any home accessibility modifications you need.

You can also ask your doctor to fill in the Medical support form [PDF 1.1MB]. You or your doctor can give us the form.

You cannot give us referral letters to a specialist.

You can give us letters from community or homelessness services.

You can also give us permission to talk with the support service for you. If you want us to do this, tell us on the application form.

We can also talk to support services for the people who will live with you. If you want us to do this:

1. Tell us on the on the resident’s form for people 16 and over.
2. Get them to fill in and sign the Consent form to exchange or release information [PDF 115KB]. This gives us permission to get information about their needs from other support services who know them.

How to apply for public housing

• as a single person
• with other people who will be your co-tenants
• for other people or children who will live with you
• if you would like community housing
• if you want to transfer to another Housing ACT home.

To apply for public housing:

• sign in to your ACT Digital Account and apply online or download and fill in the Application for housing form [PDF 937KB]
• get copies of the documents you need to apply.

If you're the only person applying

1. Sign in to your ACT Digital Account and apply online or download and fill in the Application for housing form [PDF 937KB]
2. Get copies of the documents you need to apply.

If you're applying with another person

1. Sign in to your ACT Digital Account and apply online or download and fill in the Application for housing form [PDF 937KB]
2. Get copies of the documents you need to apply.

Other people who apply with you:

• must be eligible for social housing
• will be a co-tenant on the lease if you become a tenant.

1. Fill in the Second applicant form [PDF 352KB].
2. Print the form and sign it.
3. Get copies of the documents they need to apply.

You should submit their form with your main applicant form.

If other people or children will live with you

Children and dependants can be included if you are the only person applying online, or you can download and fill in the application form for them and return it with your application:

• Children and dependants application form for social housing [PDF 276KB], for children under 16 and people who you support financially.
• Residents application form for social housing [PDF 566KB], for people over 16 who do not want to be a co-tenant. This includes your family, friends, housemates and children aged 16 and above.

If you're transferring to another Housing ACT home

If you are a Housing ACT tenant, you can apply to transfer to another Housing ACT home.

• use the online application form
• download and fill in the Application for housing form [PDF 937KB].

You must include forms for other tenants, dependants or household members.

Before you apply, you must tell your housing manager if the people who live in your household has changed.

Apply

You can apply online or print and sign the application forms and your documents.

• complete the online application form
• scan and upload the documents to your client portal

• download and print the application form
• scan and email them to Housing.CustomerService@act.gov.au
• post to Housing ACT
• hand it in at the Housing ACT service centre.

Housing ACT
Locked Bag 3000
Belconnen ACT 2617

Opening hours
Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Address
153 Emu Bank
Belconnen
Canberra ACT 2601

If you need help to apply

Contact Housing ACT customer service.

After you apply

We will contact you within 5 working days to set up an interview with you.

We will assess your application within 28 working days if:

• you have included all of the documents you need to apply
• there is no missing information on your application form.

We’ll write to you to let you know you’ve been approved.

You’ll go on one of the 3 waitlists:

• priority housing
• high needs housing
• standard housing

The waitlist you go on depends on:

• your health and wellbeing needs
• your current living situation
• risks you may be experiencing.

We’ll write to you to let you know why we did not approve your application.

The reasons we do not approve applications are:

• your household income or assets are over the limits
• you did not give us documents to prove you are eligible.

If you think Housing ACT has made a mistake, you can ask them to review their decision.