Prospective Tenants

Bethanie Housing Ltd (BHL) provides long-term, affordable housing for individuals aged 55 and over, offering a secure and supportive environment for those in need. Eligible applicants may access a range of housing options managed by BHL, ensuring a stable place to call home.

Social Housing

Social housing is the umbrella term encompassing both public housing (owned and managed by government) and community housing (managed/owned by not-for-profit organisations).

Social housing provides accommodation for very low to low-income households and is managed by the WA Government’s Department of Housing and Works (public housing), local government, and the not-for-profit sector (community housing).

Social housing is available to people whose income and assets meet certain criteria as defined by the Department of Housing and Works .

Eligibility

Applicants must meet Income and Assets eligibility tests.

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Applicants must also meet the assets test and not hold assets over a certain amount. The Department of Housing and Work s current asset limits are listed here .

Department of Housing and Works Joint Waitlists

The Department of Housing and Works maintains a central applicant list, shared by multiple housing providers, including Bethanie. To join the Joint Waitlist, applicants must apply directly through their local Department of Housing and Works office and demonstrate eligibility. Unless applicants choose to opt out, their details will be automatically shared with Community Housing Organisations to expand their housing options.

A factsheet is available and can be emailed to prospective tenants upon request.

Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing means dwellings that are provided at a rent that is 74.9% or less of the market rent for each dwelling to households meeting the income eligibility limits. These limits are based on median equivalised household incomes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and will be updated annually.

Affordable housing often involves the provision of housing for low income essential and frontline workers. This includes occupations such as police, nurses and cleaners. In BHL’s case, possible affordable housing tenants/applicants could include over 55’s that do not qualify for social housing band A due to higher income or assets.

Eligibility

To be eligible for affordable housing, applicants must:

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid visa permitting residency in Australia.
• Demonstrate a meaningful connection to the area through employment, education, family ties, or long-term residence.
• Fall within the low-to-moderate income range.
• Must not own any property or land, including holiday homes, rental properties, or a primary residence in another location.

Rent Setting

Rent pricing is typically determined using one of two methods:

• Market-Based Discount: Rent is set at no more than 74.9% of the current market rate, meaning it varies based on local rental prices for similar properties.
• Income-Based Calculation: Rent is calculated as a percentage of your household’s gross income, generally capped at 30%. If eligible for Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA), your full CRA entitlement may be factored into the rent calculation.

BHL applies one or both of these methods depending on the funding structure of each property and the specific needs of its tenants.