Be aware of backdated rent Has your income changed recently? Please let us know to avoid rent arrears. Your rent is income-based, so if your income changes, the amount of rent you should be paying may need to change too. When you tell us that your income has gone up or down, we will do a rent review to adjust your rent. If you don’t let us know about income increases when they occur, you may be charged backdated rent when we conduct your next annual rent review. Backdated rent is when you are billed for any extra rent you should have been paying from the date your income increased. Backdated rent arrears can be significant, and while we will work with you to arrange a payment plan to reduce rent debts – it is much easier to avoid backdated rent all together by informing us when your income changes. What kinds of changes could affect how much rent I pay? • If you or anyone in your household starts or stops working. • If you or anyone in your household has had a change in Centrelink payments i.e. you change benefits or start receiving a new benefit. • If someone moves into or out of your home. • If you or anyone in your household is eligible for a Centrelink benefit but are not receiving it. Tips to remember: • Your rent will be based on the income that you and your household members are eligible to receive so please make sure you are receiving these payments. • Centrelink does not let us know if you start or stop receiving different benefits, so please contact us directly otherwise, we will not know you have had an income change.
Above: (L-R) Tenancy Officer Nina with residents Sue, Faye, Noeline and Sheryl.
Small Sparks Socials: Bunbury afternoon tea & bowls As a result of feedback from residents asking for more social events, in February we held our first afternoon tea and bowls social catch up at the South Bunbury Bowls and Social Club. This event was part of our new Small Sparks Socials initiative and is designed to help our residents to get involved in local community activities and provide opportunities to socialise and connect with other residents in their area. We were pleased to have 20 of our residents come along to enjoy afternoon tea and try their hand at lawn bowls. It was a great opportunity for everyone to get out of the house and have a bit of fun. During the event, eight residents decided to become social members of the bowls club, with the cost covered by our Small Sparks Fund. We also had three residents express interest in using the fund to organise activities for their neighbours and people in the community. The success of this event has encouraged us to plan more Small Sparks Socials in different areas. If you have any suggestions or would like a Small Sparks Social in your area, please get in touch with Alex at 0437 887 675 .
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