Information for individuals seeking housing or housing assistance

People seeking crisis or emergency accommodation

For referrals to accommodation and support services – ring the Sydney City Council’s Homeless Persons Information Centre 1800 234 566 (Monday-Sunday 9:00-22:00; closed for lunch 13:00-14:00)

For overnight accommodation if you are homeless – ring Housing NSW’s after-hours temporary accommodation line 1800 152 152 (Monday-Friday 16:30-20:00, Sat, Sun, public holidays 10:00-22:00)

For women in need of temporary accommodation because of domestic violence – ring Community Services’ Domestic Violence Line 1800 656 463 (7 days a week, 24 hours a day)

For Aboriginal people experiencing homelessness - ring Ngura (Aboriginal Corporation for Homeless and Rehabilitation Community Services) (02) 9799 8446 (Monday-Friday 7:00-18:00)

For young people (people under 18 years) seeking emergency accommodation – ring the Youth Emergency Accommodation Line 1800 424 830 (a recorded message of crisis accommodation vacancies is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, plus vacancies are listed on their website) – a homeless youth support worker is available Monday-Friday, 10:30-18:00

For general enquiries about housing assistance – ring Housing NSW 1300 468 746 (7 days, 24 hours)

For people who need an interpreter – ring the Translating and Interpreting Service National 131 450 (7 days, 24 hours) and ask to speak with one of the above agencies

Private renters

For help with bond payment and rent advance for a new tenancy, under the Rentstart scheme – ring Housing NSW 1300 468 746 (Monday-Friday 8:00-18:00, Saturday 10:00-15:00)

For rental bond information – ring NSW Fair Trading 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

For rent assistance, if you are a social security recipient – ring Centrelink 13 1021 (Monday-Friday 8:00-17:00), 1800 810 586 (TTY)

For tenancy information or complaints about landlords or real estate agents – ring the Tenants Union of NSW 02 8117 3700 to find your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, or go to their website and enter your postcode; or NSW Fair Trading 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

Residents of residential parks (caravans, mobile homes, manufactured homes)

For help with bond payment and rent advance for a new tenancy, under the Rentstart scheme – ring Housing NSW 1300 468 746 (Monday-Friday 8:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-15:00)

For rental bond information – ring NSW Fair Trading 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

For rent assistance, if you are a social security recipient – ring Centrelink 13 1021 (Monday-Friday 8:00-17:00 ), 1800 810 586 (TTY)

For tenancy information or complaints about park managers or park owners – ring the Tenants Union of NSW 02 8117 3700 to find your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, or go to their website and enter your postcode; or NSW Fair Trading 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

Boarders and lodgers

For information for boarders and lodgers or complaints about landlords – ring the Tenants Union of NSW 02 8117 3700 to find your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, or go to their website and enter your postcode; or NSW Fair Trading 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

For complaints about licensed boarding houses – ring Ageing, Disability and Home Care 02 8270 2000, 02 8270 2167 (TTY)

Public housing tenants

For applications for a new tenancy – ring Housing NSW 1300 468 746 (7 days, 24 hours); see also Housing Pathways

For tenancy information – ring the Tenants Union of NSW 02 8117 3700 to find your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, or go to their website and enter your postcode

For feedback to Housing NSW – ring 1300 468 746 (7 days, 24 hours)

For complaints about Housing NSW’s administration of your tenancy – ring the Housing Appeals Committee 1800 629 794

Community housing tenants

For applications for a new tenancy – ring the community housing association in your area; see also Housing Pathways and the NSW Federation of Housing Associations

For tenancy information – ring the Tenants Union of NSW (02) 02 8117 3750, 1800 251 101; or NSW Fair Trading 133220, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

For complaints about the administration of your tenancy by a community housing association or a rental housing cooperative – ring the Housing Appeals Committee 1800 629 794

For rent assistance, if you are a social security recipient – ring Centrelink 13 1021 (Monday-Friday 8:00-17:00), 1800 810 586 (TTY)

Aboriginal people

For housing advice for Aboriginal people (on matters such as private tenancies, Aboriginal Housing Office tenancies, Housing NSW tenancies, home purchase, emergency accommodation, Aboriginal community housing providers, local Aboriginal land councils and real estate agents) – ring the Aboriginal Housing Information Service 1800 727 555, (02) 8836 9444 (Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00)

To speak to an Aboriginal operator about applications for a new tenancy with Housing NSW and other enquiries – ring Housing NSW 1300 468 746 (Monday-Friday 8:30-16:30)

For complaints about the administration of your tenancy, if your dwelling is owned by the Aboriginal Housing Office – ring the Housing Appeals Committee 1800 629 794

For tenancy information for Aboriginal people or complaints about landlords – ring the Tenants Union of NSW 02 8117 3700 to find your local Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, or go to their website; or NSW Fair Trading 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

For rent assistance, if you are a social security recipient – ring Centrelink 13 1021 (Monday-Friday 8:00-17:00), 1800 810 586 (TTY)

Homepurchasers

For general assistance – ring Housing NSW’s Home Purchase Advisory Service 1300 468 746 (7 days, 24 hours)

For mortgage assistance – ring Housing NSW 1300 468 746 (Monday-Friday 8:30-16:30)

For a grant under the First Home Owner Grant Scheme – ring the Office of State Revenue 1300 130 624

For exemptions or concessions on transfer duty and mortgage duty under the First Home Plus scheme – ring the Office of State Revenue 1300 130 624

For home loans for Aboriginal people under the Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) Homes scheme – ring 1800 107 107

Ex-prisoners

For housing assistance for ex-prisoners – ring the Community Restorative Centre (02) 9288 8700; see also Gimme Shelter

People with disability

For accommodation for people with disability – ring a regional office of Ageing, Disability and Home Care

For access to a Special Assistance Subsidy: Disability – ring Housing NSW 1300 468 746

People living with HIV/AIDS

For accommodation for people living with HIV/AIDS – ring ACON 1800 063 060

For access to a Special Assistance Subsidy: Special – ring Housing NSW 1300 468 746

Residents of residential care facilities for older people (retirement villages, nursing homes, hostels)

For complaints about your provider – ring the Aged-care Rights Service (02) 9281 3672, 1800 424 079

People living in squalor

For those concerned about others requiring assistance with living conditions – ring the Squalor Hotline of the Severe Domestic Squalor Program of Catholic Community Services 1800 225 474

People with legal issues

For people with legal issues or problems – ring Law Access NSW 1300 888 529 (Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00 excluding public holidays); if you have a hearing or speech impairment, call Law Access using a Telephone Typewriter (TTY) on 1300 889 529; if you need an interpreter, call Law Access through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450 (TIS is a free and confidential service)

If you find a mistake in the information listed here or you would like to suggest that we add further information, please tell us.

Updated 25-Jun-2010