City West Housing (CWH) looks at a number of factors to determine the eligibility of applicants. These are:

• Gross (before tax) household income
• Local connection to the City of Sydney Local Government Area
• Housing need
• Financial circumstances
• Australian residency
• Outstanding Community Housing Debt
• Connection to CWH

You can complete a self-assessment of your eligibility and proceed with applying HERE.

You can view our Eligibility and Allocations Policy HERE

City West Housing has a 2-stage application process

The first stage is an Expression of Interest (EOI) where you complete a self-assessment to determine eligibility, register for an account via the portal, and provide basic contact and personal information. You will not be required to supply any supporting evidence at this time.

After registering and successfully submitting an EOI your name will be added to our date ordered wait list. As we house those that have applied in front of you, you will progress up the list and when you are at the top of the wait list you will be asked to submit a Formal Application.

The Formal Application is a much more detailed assessment of your current circumstances and will be used to determine your eligibility, rent charges and housing need. You will be required to supply all supporting evidence at this time.

Once your Formal Application has been approved you will be moved to a shortlist from where you may be invited to view properties as they become available.

You can view the Evidence Guide HERE

Anticipated wait times are difficult to predict with any accuracy, as City West Housing is reliant upon existing residents leaving so we have a vacant property to offer to the wait list, as well as other factors outside our control. Due to the significant length of CWH’s Housing Register, the unpredictable vacancy rate, and because we try to offer leases to people in most need, we are unable to provide a specific time frame. However, it is anticipated that applicants may be waiting multiple years on our Housing Register before receiving an offer.

The CWH portfolio currently consists of 893 properties being either 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments.

All of our properties are located within the City of Sydney Local Government Area across the following suburbs: Pyrmont, Ultimo, Eveleigh, Waterloo, Zetland, Glebe and Forest Lodge.

Applicants may be offered housing at any of these locations and requests for specific suburbs or buildings are not possible.

See What Size Property Will I Be Eligible For? for more information.

Parking does not make up part of your tenancy with CWH. Most of our buildings have some parking but it is very limited. Applications are taken once a year for parking and people with disabilities, those who do shift work and those with young children are prioritised.

You can view our parking policy HERE

• CWH residents are charged a subsidised rent based on their household’s gross income.
• Very low income earners are charged 25%
• Low income earners are charged 27.5%
• Moderate income earners are charged 30%
• Assuming you meet the income eligibility criteria irrespective of your gross household income, CWH does not charge more than 74.9% of the market rent for a property.

You can view our rent policy HERE

Yes. Upon accepting an offer of housing with CWH and before commencement of the tenancy you will be required to pay an amount equivalent to six weeks rent – four weeks for bond and two weeks for rent in advance.

When a property vacancy arises four shortlisted applicants will be invited to view the property together at a specified date and time.

Applicants who decline two reasonable invitations to view a property will be removed from the wait list.

Upon viewing the property, the applicants will need to confirm if they are interested in accepting the offer of housing.

The applicant with the most points (in-line with the CWH eligibility and allocations policy) who declares an interest will be offered the property and will have seven days from the date of the offer to commence the tenancy.

Applicants who decline two reasonable offers of housing will be removed from the wait list.

A ‘reasonable offer of housing’ is one that is the appropriate number of bedrooms for the household and that considers any special requirements during the application assessment process.

You can view our eligibility and allocations policy HERE

The size of the property you may be offered (1, 2 or 3 bedroom) is determined by the number of people in your household and their relationship to each other.

Single people will be allocated either a studio or 1 bedroom apartment.

Couples are expected to share a bedroom and will be allocated a 1 bedroom apartment.

Couples with children or single parent households will be allocated additional bedrooms according to the age and sex of their children.

• Same sex children up to 18 years of age are expected to share a bedroom.
• Male and female children are expected to share a bedroom until one of the children reaches 10 years-of-age.
• If the child is over 18 years-of-age they are considered an adult and will be allocated an additional bedroom.

In shared custody situations the child/children are considered to be part of the household if they live with you for three days per week or more. Normal bedroom entitlements apply.

You can view our eligibility and allocations policy HERE

See What Type of Housing is Available? for more information.

Unfortunately, CWH does not provide crisis or emergency accommodation.

If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, we encourage you to contact Link2home on 1800 152 152.

Link2Home is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week and is a state-wide homelessness information and referral telephone service. The service provides information, conducts assessments and makes referrals to homelessness services across New South Wales.

Although you may not meet our eligibility criteria, there could still be affordable housing options available to you. We recommend you make enquiries with your local public or community housing provider.

You can search for your local DCJ office or participating community housing provider HERE.
See a list of current affordable housing vacancies HERE.