Social Housing provides secure and affordable homes for individuals with low to moderate incomes who have a housing need. It includes public housing managed by Housing NSW and Housing ACT, as well as community housing managed by not-for-profit organisations like Argyle Housing.

Both public housing and community housing offer secure and affordable rentals for individuals with low incomes. The main distinction is that public housing is provided by the government, while community housing is provided by not-for-profit organisations.

When applying for social housing, you have the power to choose housing offers from Housing NSW/Housing ACT, community housing providers, or both. This gives you more chances to find accommodation that suits your needs. If you or someone in your household is Aboriginal, you can also be listed for Aboriginal Housing Office properties. You can change your provider preference at any time before receiving an offer.

The general eligibility criteria are the same for all types of social housing. However, some providers may have different policies regarding bond payment, lease length, and pet ownership. Community housing providers like Argyle Housing may also offer specialised support to clients and the local community.

In most town centres, there are community and/or public housing providers offering social housing. Argyle Housing manages properties in various regions in NSW, Southwest Sydney, and the ACT. Local Government Areas include Campbelltown, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, Goulburn, Yass, Queanbeyan, Young, Wagga Wagga, and Griffith. Areas in the ACT include Ainslie, Conder, and Gungahlin

If you need housing assistance, you can apply for programs such as Rentstart, Tenancy Guarantee, and Temporary Accommodation. Contact us or your local Housing NSW or Housing ACT Office for further information.

To be eligible for community housing, as a general rule, you must:

• Be an Australian Citizen
• Reside in NSW (for NSW applications)
• Reside in ACT (for ACT applications)
• Have a household income within the eligibility limits
• Not own any assets or property that you could live in
• Be capable of maintaining a successful tenancy, with or without support
• Be at least 18 years old
• You will also need to prove your identity and, if you have any outstanding debts with a social housing provider from a previous tenancy, you must be making regular repayments. For more information on eligibility requirements in NSW, click here. For ACT requirements, click here.

Yes, when you apply for social housing, you have the option to select the area or town where you would like to live. These areas are divided into allocation zones. If you are eligible for housing, we will prioritise you for offers in your chosen allocation zone. You can also choose up to five additional allocation zones if you select community housing.

While we strive to accommodate your preferences, we cannot guarantee specific locations. The property we offer you will depend on the next available vacancy that matches your housing needs within your chosen allocation zone. This means you may be offered housing in any suburb within your approved zone.

It’s important to note that waiting times vary across different areas. Some zones have high demand, meaning there are more people in need of housing than available properties. If you choose a high-demand zone and are being assessed for priority housing, we will review if it is necessary for you to live there or if your needs can be met in another location. This assessment is called a locational needs assessment.

If you select a high-demand zone without a specific need to live there, you may be asked to choose another zone or be prepared for a longer wait for housing.

Argyle Housing provides a range of accommodation options, including houses, townhouses, villas, units, and bed-sitters. We cater to the diverse needs of our clients, whether they are single individuals or part of a large family.

You cannot directly apply for priority housing assistance. However, if your application shows that you have urgent and ongoing housing needs that cannot be resolved through the private rental market, you may be assessed for priority housing. If eligible, you will be prioritised on the housing register.

Our application form and social housing supplement include questions to identify any special requirements you may have, such as access to children or foster care. You can provide additional details if your circumstances are not covered. You will need to provide requested evidence to support your application and explain your situation. Your requirements will be taken into consideration during the assessment process.

The social housing provider where you submit your application will conduct an initial assessment to understand your needs and the urgency/complexity of your situation. If you are a community housing client and wish to apply for a succession of tenancy or mutual exchange, please check if your provider offers this option.

Once you have completed the application process and provided all necessary evidence, we will conduct a detailed assessment of your application.

You will receive written notification of the outcome of your application.

The social housing provider where you submitted your application will manage and process it. You can contact them at any time for updates. You can also reach out to other housing providers to inquire about your application. All participating social Housing providers have access to a common system, so they can inform you of the status of your application.

The processing time for your application depends on your circumstances and if you have provided all requested evidence. Each provider has set time frames for processing social housing applications promptly. For private rental assistance, we aim for the following time frames:

• Immediate assistance for those who are homeless.
• Assessment within one working day if all documents are complete and you have applied for Rentstart.

The waiting times for both priority assistance and standard wait-turn housing vary based on the number of people waiting, the availability of social housing in your chosen area, and your special housing requirements. We strive to house individuals as efficiently as possible and will notify you once housing becomes available to you.

Clients approved for priority housing will be housed ahead of most other applicants on the housing register. Clients approved for wait-turn housing will be offered housing in their chosen location when:

• a suitable property becomes available; and or
• other applicants ahead of them on the waiting list have been offered housing.