HOUSING

Companion Card

Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs Health Care Card

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

Department of Human Services Pension Concession Card

Seniors Card

Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card

Department of Veterans’ Affairs Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

or

HOUSING

housing

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  Aboriginal housing service

  

  Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

  Assistance to Aboriginal people on low-incomes to access housing is available to those who:

  • are low-income earners based on income eligibility limits for a DHS Health Care Card and 
  • have financial assets less than $35 000.

  Aboriginal housing applicants are required to provide confirmation of communal recognition from a recognised Aboriginal community organisation if they have not previously been deemed eligible to access a Tasmanian Government Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander program or service by the Office of Aboriginal Affairs.

  For more information:

  Department of Health and Human Services
  Phone: 1300 665 663 (Housing Tasmania)
  Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/housing 

  
  

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• 

  HomeShare

  

  Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

  HomeShare can turn the dream of home ownership into a reality for eligible Tasmanians. It opens the door to home ownership for those who have enough income but need a helping hand.

  The cost of buying a home is shared with the Director of Housing. Provided the applicant has a deposit and enough income to make repayments, they will own at least 70 per cent of their home. The Director of Housing contributes up to 30 per cent. The Director’s share must be paid out within 30 years.

  Under HomeShare, purchasers can buy a Housing Tasmania property for sale, a newly built home or a house and land package.

  Purchasers who buy a Housing Tasmania property will qualify for the Essential Maintenance Package. If an essential major item in the home fails and needs to be replaced, the Essential Maintenance Package will let them claim up to a total of $2 000, starting from the day of settlement for a period of two years.

  To be eligible for HomeShare, purchasers must:

  • have an income to meet the costs of purchasing and owning a home
  • be under income and asset limits (tenants who rent a Housing Tasmania property are exempt from this requirement)
  • be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, living in Tasmania
  • be an individual at least 18 years (not a business or organisation)
  • have a minimum deposit of $3 000 or 5 per cent of the purchase price, whichever is the greater
  • be able to pay legal and establishment fees
  • live in the house as their principal place of residence
  • not own or have an interest in any other real property (land)
  • not be an un-discharged bankrupt or discharged from bankruptcy three years prior to the date of application
  • not owe any money to Housing Tasmania and
  • not have previously received assistance under the Streets Ahead Incentive Program, Home Ownership Assistance Program or HomeShare.

  For more information:

  Phone: 1800 687 377 (Tassie Home Loans)
  Web: www.homesharetas.com.au

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• 

  Private rental assistance

  

  Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

  Assistance is available to eligible people who are having difficulty accessing or staying in the private rental market. Assistance is available to:

  • low to moderate income earners based on income eligibility limits for a DHS Health Care Card.

  For more information:

  Housing Connect
  Phone: 1800 800 588 (Statewide freecall)
  Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/housing/housing_connect

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  Public housing rent assistance

  

  Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

  Assistance is available to public housing tenants on a low income who have less than $35 000 of financial assets based on income eligibility limits for a DHS Health Care Card. Tenants pay a contribution towards the market rent calculated on their income.

  For more information:

  Department of Health and Human Services
  Phone: 1300 665 663 (Housing Tasmania)
  Web: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/housing

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• 

  Council rates remission

  

  Department of Human Services Pension Concession Card; Department of Human Services Health Care Card; Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria; Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card

  A 30 per cent reduction on local government rates and charges (capped at a maximum amount each year) is available to a pensioner who on 1 July each year holds a:

  • current DHS or DVA Pensioner Concession Card
  • current DHS Health Care Card (but not a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card)
  • DVA Health Card - All Conditions ("Gold Card") inscribed with 'TPI' or 'War Widow', 'War Widower'

  and

  • occupies the property in question as their principal place of residence and
  • is legally responsible to the council for the rates of the property.

  In 2016-17, eligibility was extended to holders of DVA Health Cards ("Gold Card") inscribed with ‘Totally and Permanently Incapacitated’ (TPI) or ‘War Widow’, ‘War Widower’ whose Gold Cards and entitlements are issued under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

  For more information:

  All initial enquiries should be made to your relevant local council.

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• 

  Streets Ahead Incentive Program

  

  Concession available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria

  The Streets Ahead Incentive Program can help Tasmanians on low to moderate incomes to buy a home from Housing Tasmania.

  The Streets Ahead Incentive Program provides:

  Financial assistance:

  • $12 000 to help pay a house deposit
  • up to $500 to help with a mortgage insurance premium and
  • up to $500 to help with legal costs associated with buying a house.

  Additional support including:

  • independent financial counselling from Anglicare, free of charge. Financial counselling can help you to assess your budget and ability to buy a house. Anglicare can be contacted on 1800 243 232a free
  • independent building report – once the purchase contract has been signed by the purchaser and Housing Tasmania. If the building report shows a structural defect, the purchaser can change their mind about buying the house
  • advice on property valuation information held by Housing Tasmania. Housing Tasmania will recommend a purchaser gets further advice from a local real estate agent on the current market values in the area. However, if the sale goes ahead Housing Tasmania will organise a Government valuation which will decide the final price for sale and
  • if an essential major item in the home fails and needs to be replaced, the Essential Maintenance Package will enable a claim to be made, up to a total of $2 000 over two years.

  To be eligible for Streets Ahead, purchasers must:

  • have an income to meet the costs of purchasing and owning a home
  • be under income and asset limits (tenants who rent a Housing Tasmania property are exempt from this requirement)
  • be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, living in Tasmania
  • be an individual at least 18 years (not a business or organisation)
  • have a minimum deposit of $3 000 or 5 per cent of the purchase price, whichever is the greater
  • be able to pay legal and establishment fees
  • live in the house as their principal place of residence
  • not own or have an interest in any other real property (land)
  • not be an un-discharged bankrupt
  • or discharged from bankruptcy within three years before the date of application
  • not owe any money to Housing Tasmania and
  • not have previously received assistance under Streets Ahead, Home Ownership Assistance Program or HomeShare.

  For more information:

  Department of Health and Human Services
  Phone: 1300 665 663 (Housing Tasmania)
  Web: http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/housing/buying/streets_ahead

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