Contributions from additional occupants

From 2 March 2026, when the applicable persons of the household get contributions from additional occupants, 62% of the total contributions are added to the calculated Income Related Rent.

Income Related Rent for existing social housing tenants will be re-assessed using the new calculation at the earlier of their next scheduled annual review, or next change in circumstances review, on or after 2 March 2026.

For clients on the housing register moving into a social housing property on or after 2 March 2026, Income Related Rent will be reassessed using the new calculation.

Any annual review, change in circumstances review, or reassessment that begins before 2 March 2026, including when someone moves into social housing, will use the previous settings.

Contributions means all payments made by an additional occupant, and the value of all goods and services provided or paid for by them, for any of the following reasons:

• as contributions towards the costs and expenses incurred by the applicable persons in the household or
• in consideration of goods or services provided by the applicable persons while the additional occupant is living in the household or
• in consideration of the resident being allowed to reside there

Board, which includes payment for food and/or service costs such as power costs would be considered a contribution.

An additional occupant making contributions towards accommodation costs may be able to get an Accommodation Supplement or Accommodation Benefit based on their contributions.

When the additional occupant who pays the contribution to a tenant who pays Income Related Rent gets Accommodation Supplement, Temporary Additional Support, and/or Special Benefit, MSD will check the details match between the two clients. Where there is a mismatch of information, the mismatch process must be followed. 

Vanessa is a social housing tenant, and she gets contributions from 3 additional occupants in her household; two pay $200 each per week and the other pays $70 per week.

Two of the additional occupants have young children. Vanessa stays at home and cares for the children.

The total contributions she gets from the additional occupants are $470 a week and $291.40 is included in the assessment of Income Related Rent.