Change to people in the household type
Client and partner separate
When a couple are paying Income Related Rent, if a client and their partner separate, the partner will be removed from the household type as the change to the relationship is considered as a permanent change.
Whenever a partner is removed from the household type you must review the Income Related Rent.
You must reassess the Income Related Rent from the date of the change in circumstances, which is the date:
- the partner no longer resides at the property or
- the assessable income reduced
whichever is the later.
The rate of Income Related Rent should be the rate calculated using the new household type.
Note a signatory to the Tenancy Agreement must not be removed from the household type until the housing provider has confirmed they have been released from the agreement. If the client and the partner are both on the Tenancy Agreement, the person leaving the tenancy must tell the housing provider, and be released from the agreement before they are removed from the household.
Client and partner start relationship
If a client advises they are in a relationship you should review the Income Related Rent from the date the relationship started.
The partner's assessable income is included in the calculation of the new rate of Income Related Rent.
The client may make a request to their housing provider for their partner to be included into the Tenancy Agreement as a signatory.
If the partner will not be a signatory to the Tenancy Agreement, they can generally still be included in the household type.
Notifying the housing provider
The housing provider will be notified by MSD when there has been a change in the client's relationship and MSD is aware this is the case.
The housing provider may decide on whether to end or change a tenancy.
