Your location: Home > Renting > Public housing > Applying for housing assistance > Housing entitlements

Housing entitlements

The Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness Services) aims to provide housing that meets the needs of a household, for example an appropriate number of bedrooms, the type of housing and a suitable location.

You can only apply for housing anywhere in Queensland where the department has properties, regardless of where you currently live. You must list for six locations (suburbs, towns, cities) of your choice, except where:

you have a demonstrated need to live in a particular location, or
you are listing for a regional or remote area.

Bedroom entitlements

The following table is a guide to bedroom entitlements for different types of households. Your bedroom entitlements may change depending on the age, gender and number of people within your household and the type of housing you want to live in. The size of the housing provided is based on the number of people in the household.

Bedroom entitlements for different types of households
Type of housing	Household
Seniors' unit	single person over 55 years couple over 55 years
One bedroom (any housing type)	single person couple
Two bedrooms (any housing type)	2 single people sharing single/couple with 1-2 children
Three bedrooms (any housing type)	3 single people sharing single/couple with 2-4 children
Four bedrooms (any housing type)	4 single people sharing single/couple with 3-6 children
Five bedrooms (any housing type) (reviewable property)	5 single people sharing single/couple with 4-8 children
Six bedrooms (any housing type) (reviewable property)	6 single people sharing single/couple with 5-10 children
Seven bedrooms (any housing type) (reviewable property)	7 single people sharing single/couple with 6-12 children

Top of page

If you are approved for housing assistance, you must advise the department of any changes to your household circumstances or housing need. Your eligibility and housing need will be reviewed before you are offered housing.

Other factors affecting bedroom entitlements

Any changes in your household may change your bedroom entitlements so you must advise the department of these changes immediately.
Usually no more than two children of the same gender will share a bedroom. However, three children of the same gender may share a bedroom if it is large enough.
If there is an age difference of at least seven years between children of the same gender, each child will be given a separate bedroom.
If you or a household member is three months or more pregnant, and this is confirmed with a doctor’s certificate, the bedroom entitlement will allow for a newborn child of either gender.
Couples are only entitled to one bedroom. Other household members aged 18 years or over receive a separate bedroom.
If you have regular custody of children, your bedroom entitlements will be assessed as per the department’s entitlement’s policy regarding children. You must provide evidence of the custody arrangements.
If you or a household member needs an extra bedroom/s for health or disability related equipment or support needs or to house a live-in carer, talk to your nearest Housing Services office about your needs.

Top of page

Accepting housing with fewer bedrooms

If the department is satisfied that serious overcrowding will not result, you can list for housing with fewer bedrooms to increase your chances of being allocated earlier.

Offers of housing will still depend on the availability of housing in the areas you have listed for and the number of people ahead of you on the housing register who have a higher need.

If you request and are subsequently placed in smaller housing, a transfer to larger housing will not usually considered unless special circumstances arise.

Types of housing

You can list for any of the following types of housing which are available in your six chosen locations that match your household’s bedroom entitlements.

Detached house	A house with 2 or more bedrooms on one block of land.
Duplex	Typically 2 units with 1-3 bedrooms each divided by a common wall and located on one block of land.
Cluster house	A number of attached or separate homes with between 2-4 bedrooms located within a multiple housing development.
Townhouse	Three or more units next to each other with 1-4 bedrooms each, divided by common walls.
Apartment / flat / unit	Usually in a complex of 2 or more storeys with between 1-3 bedrooms each.
Senior's unit	Available to applicants over 55 years of age and usually in a complex of 1-2 storeys with between 1-2 bedrooms each.