What Sort of Housing am I Eligible For? 1. Public Housing 2. Community Housing 3. Private Rental

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1 ABIOS Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service How to Find Housing in Brisbane A simple step-by-step guide to find Private Rental Housing that will suit your budget, needs and preferences.

2 Things to Consider Before You Begin: Do I have enough money to move? How will I move all of my belongings? What can I afford? Do I have enough money to live on my own or will I need to share? Where do I want to live? Are there shops, work and places to eat close by? Are there sport and leisure activities or hobbies close by? Do I need to be close to friends and family who can provide support? Will I have access to community services that I may need? What is local Public Transport like? What Sort of Residence will I Need? How many bedrooms will I need? Will my residence need to be physically accessible for myself or others? o Does it have stairs? o Are the doorways wide enough for a wheelchair etc. Do I have enough furniture to move into an unfurnished residence? Do I need particular floor coverings according to my mobility needs? What Sort of Housing am I Eligible For? 1. Public Housing 2. Community Housing 3. Private Rental If Government Housing is not suitable or available for you, then your next step is to look for Housing through Private Rental. This can be a much more expensive means of accommodation, and you must evaluate your finances to ensure that you are able to afford a rental property.

3 How do I Find Private Rental Properties? You can search for private rental properties by either visiting the real estate offices in your area or by searching on the internet: 1) REAL ESTATE OFFICES: Each real estate office will have a list of private rentals in their area this list is updated as often as every few hours much more frequently than the internet What Real Estate Agents are in the area in which I want to live? How to Apply for Private Rental 4. The next screen shows instructions to Search for Properties to Rent in QLD. 5. Enter suburb name(s) or select suburbs from the list provided that you are interested in. What suburbs do I want to live in? Select a weekly price range from the list provided, or enter a weekly price range How much money can I spend on rent a week? 2) INTERNET: All private rental listings in Brisbane can be found on the website: How do I use the Internet to find Private Rental Properties? 1. Go to the website. 2. When the homepage opens, click on the tab at the top of the page to select Rental Properties. 7. Select the number of bedrooms you need to have in your rental property, from the list provided. How many bedrooms will I need? 8. Select the property type from the list provided (i.e. house, unit etc.). Explanations of the different types of housing are provided by clicking on the link titled Property Type Definitions.. 9. Click Start Your Search to view your search results. 3. A map of Australia will be displayed select QLD.

4 How can I View a Private Rental Property If you are interested in a property there are several ways you can arrange to view the property: You can inspect the property yourself. You must have photo ID. You must have a $50 security deposit to get a key from the real estate. The property owner may like to meet you, so they can supervise your inspection. Sometimes the existing tenant may be able to show you through the property. An open house may be arranged if and when there are multiple people interested in a property. These other options will not require a security deposit. What is the Application Process for Private Rental? You will need the following information to complete your application: Income statement from Centrelink; OR 6 consecutive pay slips My annual income is Names of all other people that will occupy the property. Personal details of personal referees for all applicants. Address: Ph: A best choice for a referee is someone who: Is not a family member Has known you for several years Most suitable are bosses, landlords, family friends holding a position of responsibility Referees should be aware and prepared to receive a call from the real estate this will speed up the processing of your application. To apply for a property you must also provide 100 points of identification. Drivers Licence* 40 Points Passport* 40 Points Proof of Age Card* 40 Points Proof of Citizenship 30 Points Birth Certificate 30 Points Previous Tenancy Agreement 20 Points Previous 4 rent receipts 20 Points Rental bond receipt 20 Points Pay slips Telephone/Electricity/Gas Accounts Tenant Ledger Bank/Credit Card Statements Pension Card Council or Water Rates Health Care Card Medicare Card *One form of ID must be a drivers licence OR passport OR proof of age card. Once you have submitted your application you will be notified within 24hrs of the outcome of your application.

5 What do I Need to do Now that my Application is Approved 1. You will also have to make a bond payment, usually equivalent to four weeks rent. How much will this be? $ This money is held as security for any property damage or missed payments due. You will need to fill out a bond lodgement form to document this payment, and so that you can apply to have your bond refunded at the end of your tenancy. I have completed a bond lodgement form. 2. You will be required to sign a tenancy agreement and pay the first two weeks rent. How much will this be? $ 3. The tenancy agreement will tell you what payments you will be responsible for. Generally tenants pay rent, electricity, phone and internet; property owners pay rates. I have signed a tenancy agreement. 4. How am I going to pay my rent? Direct Debit Cash Eftpos Some real estates may not accept cash or Eftpos, you need to ask your real estate what method of payment they accept. 5. Once you are given the keys to your property you need to make an initial inspection of the property and fill out an entry condition report to record the state of the premises at the beginning of your tenancy. I have completed an entry condition report. This is important to ensure that when you leave the property you will not be charged for any damage that already existed when you moved in. When you have finished your tenancy, you will need to complete an exit condition report. If there is no damage to the property, your bond will be refunded. 6. How much will all of this cost me? My initial one-off costs for my rental property are approximately: 2 x wks rent with Tenancy Agreement $ 4 x wks rent as Bond $ TOTAL = $ My ongoing costs for my rental property are approximately: Rent $ Electricity $ Phone $ Internet $ TOTAL = $

6 What if I Don t Have Enough Money to Pay for my Bond? You can apply for a bond loan from organisations such as Centrelink or Department of Housing. To apply for a bond loan from Department of Housing: You must meet eligibility criteria: You live in Queensland. You are an Australian citizen. You are not currently living in the property for which the bond loan is required. You meet current income limits set by the Department of Housing. You do not own or partly-own any property. You do not have any outstanding debts with Department of Housing. Rent for the property will not exceed 60% of gross household weekly income. What if I Need Further Assistance? The Residential Tenancies Authority is a government organisation that can assist you when starting, during and ending a tenancy. The RTA assists both tenants and landlords to understand their legal rights and responsibilities as set out by the Residential Tenancies Act You should contact the RTA if you feel as though you have had unfair treatment, or have been discriminated against both in your search for Housing. Contact the RTA on or visit their website: GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SEARCH FOR HOUSING! If you require any assistance with this process, please contact your Rehabilitation Coordinator at ABIOS. Ph: Fax: abios@health.qld.gov.au ABIOS Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service Revised 5/2007 The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2007 Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service PO Box 6053 Buranda 4102