About Rent Choice

The Rent Choice Rental Subsidy Scheme has been designed to deliver maximum impact and flexibility, offering housing solutions that can respond to individual circumstances of key workers, and that can operate effectively in the different housing market conditions experienced across the Northern Territory.

Designed and administered by Venture Housing, Rent Choice provides access to safe, secure and affordable housing in the private rental market by providing a subsidy towards the rent, strengthening home affordability for eligible key workers and low-income earners. Once approved, subsidies are paid directly to the licensed Real Estate Agency or NRAS approved registered Community Housing Provider by Venture Housing. Payments occur in regular instalments for a period of up to 12 months during the agreed term of the Tenancy Agreement for an eligible household.

What’s new this year?

We are pleased to announce that the scope for this year’s release of Rent Choice subsidies has been expanded as follows:

  • Rent Choice is now accessible to households in existing leases with a minimum six-month term remaining
  • Income eligibility thresholds have increased for couples and families.
  • Previous Rent Choice participants can apply
  • Provisions have been made for people to apply where they are located outside the regional centres listed 
  • Subsidies will be granted for a maximum of twelve months capped at $12,000 with no eligibility review requirement.

These amendments have been made to increase accessibility and impact for Territorians experiencing rental stress, and to enable households currently renting under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) to access Rent Choice when the NRAS incentives cease, reducing the risk of financial hardship and homelessness that can result when this occurs.

Applications opened on 1 July 2024.

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