Rent & Payments

You must always pay your rent on time and in advance otherwise you risk losing your tenancy. Rent can be paid in the following ways:

1. Centrepay Deductions – Your rent is paid directly to Foundation Housing from your Centrelink benefit.
2. Direct Debit – You can use internet banking or set up a direct debit from your bank account to pay your rent.
3. In-person at the bank.

Paying your rent is absolutely critical to keeping your tenancy. Rent needs to be paid on time and in full. Centrepay is the simplest method for doing this and is the preferred method where possible. Your Housing Coordinator can provide advice and help with setting up Centrepay deductions.

Foundation Housing is compliant with the Department of Communities’ Community Housing Rent Setting Policy and the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA).

Rent is set at 25-30% of your household income depending on the type of property you live in and the program it falls under. The Rents team will request evidence of your household income and let you know the rent based on these details.

For detailed information on how we set rent for tenants and lodging residents, please visit the resources section below and download our information sheets.

1. We will make contact to remind you that your rent is overdue.
2. If the rent remains unpaid, we will again try to contact you and will send a letter warning that you are in breach of your tenancy agreement. This is serious and should not be ignored.
3. If the rent is still not paid and we have not heard from you, we will send you a notice to end your tenancy and move out of your property, unless you repay your debt immediately. This notice will result in court action if you do not contact us to make arrangements to pay off the debt.

Contact us immediately if you are having trouble paying your rent. The sooner we know the sooner we can put plans in place to help.

Tenants may ask for a rent review at any time. In the absence of any requests for review by the Tenant, Foundation Housing usually reviews the rent every twelve months. Foundation Housing may review the Rent earlier than twelve-monthly if the Assessable Income of the household has changed.

Tenants must tell Foundation Housing of any change to their household at the time the change occurs. This includes any change to the people who live in the Property, as well as any change to the income of any household member.

Tenants must give Foundation Housing details of their income when requested, so that Foundation Housing can review their Rent.

Tenants and household members not in receipt of an income or with an income lower than the base statutory benefit who are eligible to make application for a statutory benefit but choose not to, will be deemed to be receiving this benefit for which they would be eligible.

Examples include:

• A person who loses their job but would prefer to live off savings then apply for employment benefits.
• A person who loses all or part of their payment for a period because they have breached the Centrelink Activity Test.

You are responsible for paying the utilities for your home such as water usage and electricity.

Paying your water bill

• You will receive your first water bill within 30 days of Foundation Housing receiving it from the water authority. We will post you the original bill as well as an invoice from Foundation Housing.
• You need to pay your water bill by the due date on the bill.
• If you are having difficulty paying the bill, please speak to your Housing Coordinator to discuss payment options.
• Foundation Housing will let the Water Corporation know new tenant details when you move in.

Electricity

• Before you move into your home, be sure to connect the electricity and put it into your name. Electricity usage bills will then be sent directly to you from the electricity company.
• It is important that these bills are paid in full so that your power remains connected.

How to pay your water bill

1. The Water Corporation offers a range of different payment options including direct debit and online payments. They can also provide repayment plans and extend payment dates if you need help paying your bill.
2. Please let your Housing Coordinator know immediately if you are having trouble making water payments.
3. Please visit www.watercorporation.com.au/Help-and-advice or call 1300 369 645 to discuss your options.