Change in circumstances

Before being allocated social housing, that is, while clients are on the register they must generally tell MSD straight away of any change in their circumstances or their family's situation that may affect their:

• eligibility for social housing or
• need to be allocated, assigned or let any particular social housing

Note clients do not need to advise MSD when they get, or have a change to, information share Child Support payments.

When a review of eligibility results in a change to a client's housing need (for example, assessed as low (priority D) or moderate (priority C) housing need) they are no longer eligible for social housing and they must be removed them from the register.

The client may be eligible for other financial assistance and could be referred to an options and advice seminar to assist them with finding alternative housing solutions.

Note tenants in social housing also generally have a duty to advise MSD straight away of any change in their circumstances that may affect their continued eligibility for social housing, the need for the particular property they are renting, or their calculated rate of Income Related Rent.

For more information see:

• Duty to advise of changes of circumstances Change in circumstances for current tenants
• Income Related Rent Change in circumstances

The client's application must be reviewed when the change of circumstances changes:

• their household composition (changes to the people living in the property)
• their housing need (priority for a house)
• their housing needs (property requirements)
• the assessable income or
• the accommodation income they get from additional occupants

The client must be advised if the review changes their priority rating or housing needs (property requirements).

When a client cannot be contacted during an application register review, we do not know if the client is still eligible to be allocated social housing.

The client cannot be referred to a housing provider until their circumstances have been confirmed.

When a client's eligibility cannot be confirmed, they must be removed from the register.

There are circumstances when a request to review a client's housing need (priority) or housing needs (property requirements) can be declined if there is reason to believe the client's circumstances have not significantly changed since their last review.

A client cannot apply for a Review of Decision if they do not agree with the decision not to review their eligibility while on the register.