Tenancy managers

• Who can be a tenancy manager of an NRAS dwelling?
• What is the tenancy manager’s role?
• Can an approved participant manage the NRAS property themselves?
• Who is responsible for checking tenants’ incomes?
• How does the tenancy manager check tenants’ incomes?
• How are tenants selected for NRAS dwellings?
• What protections are in place for tenancy managers?

Who can be a tenancy manager of an NRAS dwelling?

Tenancy managers for National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) dwellings may be a:

• not-for-profit organisation (such as a community housing provider);
• commercial business (such as a private real estate agent);
• Local Government; or
• State or Territory Government on a fee-for-service basis only where there are no suitable alternatives.

Approved participants may contract a service provider to manage dwellings on their behalf or the tenancy manager could form part of the consortium which makes the NRAS application.

What is the tenancy manager’s role?

NRAS tenancy managers are required to:

• assess tenant eligibility and retain tenant records;
• manage determination of market rents and the below-market rents charged to tenants of approved NRAS dwellings;
• provide property management and maintenance functions;
• manage the ongoing tenancy of an NRAS dwelling;
• report compliance with tenant eligibility, rent levels and other regulatory requirements under the Scheme to approved participants; and
• retain tenancy compliance records for at least five years.

NRAS requires that tenancy management services comply with the residential tenancy legislation and relevant tenancy and property management regulations in the State or Territory in which the dwelling is located.
In some jurisdictions, tenancy managers may need to hold a real-estate licence. Your State or Territory Government housing agency can provide details of any local requirements.
Approved participants should note that failure by a tenancy manager to comply with the requirements of the Scheme may impact on your right to receive the National Rental Incentive, and may result in an allocation being revoked if the conditions of your allocation are not complied with.

Can an approved participant manage the NRAS property themselves?

Approved participants may undertake the tenancy manager role where they have the appropriate skills and qualifications.

Who is responsible for checking tenants’ incomes?

The tenancy manager is responsible for ensuring that tenants meet the Scheme’s eligibility criteria on an ongoing basis.

How does the tenancy manager check tenants’ incomes?

Tenancy managers should take reasonable steps to accurately determine the household income of NRAS tenants. Documents that may assist in determining household income include:

• copies of payslips;
• notices of assessment for annual income tax returns;
• letters from employers;
• statements from superannuation funds;
• statements from Centrelink; and/or
• statements of dividends or rents paid.

Copies of any documents should be held on file, as the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) may audit NRAS dwellings to ensure that the requirements of the Scheme are being met.

How are tenants selected for NRAS dwellings?

Tenancy managers select tenants and maintain waiting lists for NRAS homes. Prospective tenants need to contact the property’s tenancy manager to register their interest in renting an NRAS dwelling.
Assessment and selection of tenants is at the discretion of the tenancy management organisation. As long as NRAS eligibility requirements are met, tenancy decisions will be made in line with their usual policies and processes.
Queensland tenants are selected from the Queensland Government’s One Social Housing Register.

What protections are in place for tenancy managers?

NRAS requires that tenancy management services operate under the residential tenancy legislation and relevant tenancy and property management regulations in the State or Territory in which the dwelling is located.