Checking your eligibility for bond loans and rental grants

To be eligible for a Bond Loan, Bridging Bond Loan, Bond Loan Plus, or Rental Grant, you must:

• not be currently living in the property you need the bond for (unless you’re applying for a Bridging Bond Loan)
• be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or have a temporary protection or bridging visa
• have less than $5,500 in cash or savings among all the bond loan applicants (not including dependents (any child (under 18 years old) or adult that is a legal and financial dependent of a tenant))
• meet the income eligibility limits for your household
• not own or part-own a:
  • residential property
  • caravan or mobile home, or a live-aboard boat permanently connected to household utilities.
• ensure the rent for the home won’t be more than:
  • 60% of the total gross weekly income of all applicants if applying for a Bond Loan, Bridging Bond Loan or Rental Grant.

Note: if you have outstanding debts with the Department of Housing and Public Works, you’ll need to sign a debt repayment agreement.

Rental Grant applicants must also meet at least 1 of these conditions:

• You’re leaving a community-based rent scheme in Queensland to move into a private rental home. You must apply within 14 days of leaving the community-based rent scheme.
• You or someone in your household is experiencing domestic and family violence or sexual violence.
• You’re currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
• Within the last 3 months you have:
  • stayed at least 28 days in an approved centre (e.g. emergency housing or a women's shelter). We will need to see evidence supplied by the approved centre.
  • left a correctional facility having served at least 28 days
  • been discharged from a hospital or other health facility (including a mental health facility or rehabilitation centre) where you were a resident for at least 28 days
  • left a child protection service where you lived for at least 28 days.

Note:

• If you're experiencing domestic, family, or sexual violence, your application for a Bond Loan or Bridging Bond Loan is automatically approved. You will need to provide information about your circumstances to be eligible.
• If you’re under 18 years of age, call Housing Services on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) for more information.

Income eligibility limits are assessed on the total income for all applicants, not an individual applicant’s income. An applicant is a person who will sign the tenancy agreement.

To be eligible, the combined gross (before-tax) income of all applicants can’t be more than the limits shown in the table below.

If your household type is not listed above, use the information below to calculate your income eligibility:

• first adult: $1,427.72
• each additional adult: $713.86
• each dependant (any child (under 18 years old) or adult that is a legal and financial dependent of a tenant): $428.31.

The total household income limit is then rounded to the nearest dollar.

Types of income

Combined gross income includes all forms of income received by each applicant, including:

• wages
• income support payments from Centrelink and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• Family Tax Benefit payments
• Youth Allowance
• other Centrelink special-purpose payments
• income from interest, term deposits, and investments.

Types of income not included:

• Veterans' Affairs Total and Permanent Impairment Disability Pensions
• Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Special (Special Rate) Payments (from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs)
• income of dependant children under 18 years or any payments from Centrelink or DVA paid to children living with parents).