Relocating public housing tenants
Homes NSW may relocate tenants for property management purposes, such as redevelopment or under-occupancy. Tenants receive relocation assistance but tenants who reject reasonable offers may face tenancy termination.
Relocating tenants of Homes NSW managed properties for management purposes
There may be times where we might ask you to move out of your home to another social housing property. We call this relocating tenants for management purposes.
How we relocate you
Your Client Service Officer or a Relocation Officer will work with you and your family to determine your housing needs. They will also keep you updated on what is happening.
We assess each situation on a case by case basis and make a decision based on your individual circumstances.
Homes NSW will do this by:
- letting you know you are being relocated and give you a general timeframe for your move
- asking you about your housing needs
- assessing your housing needs
- sending you an individual relocation statement that sets out your housing and location entitlements
- finding you alternative housing that meets your needs.
We will also discuss relocating or reimbursing improvements you have made to your current property.
Frequently asked questions
We may ask you to move for reasons connected with your property. This might be because:
- the property needs to be sold
- the property you are living in is now too big for your household.
Whenever possible, we will carry out the relocation needs interview at your property. This will help in identifying your housing needs like any home modifications. It will also help us identify any property alterations eligible for reimbursement. After our interview and assessment we will send you a written Relocation Statement. The statement will confirm:
- the type and size of the property you will be offered, including the number of bedrooms
- the location you are approved to move to
- the number of offers you will receive
- other information about the relocation process. This might be the type and length of lease you will be offered when you move and your entitlement to a rent subsidy
- any agreed home improvements.
You must tell us about any changes in your circumstances as soon as possible, even if you think that the change may not affect anything. Any change could affect the housing we offer you and the time it takes to move you.
Depending on your situation at the time, you might receive one or two offers.
If you are being relocated for management purposes, you will usually receive two offers of housing.
When we make the final offer, we will issue you a Notice of Intent to Issue a Notice of Termination. If you reject this offer, you have 14 days to request a review of the decision to terminate your tenancy under Section 149 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.
Review process
- Initial Review: Once you request a review, we will assess the decision to terminate your tenancy.
- Housing Appeals Committee (HAC) Review: Regardless of our internal review's outcome, we will forward the case to the HAC for an accelerated review if you have given your consent.
Outcomes of the HAC Review
- If the HAC disagrees with termination, you will receive one more offer of housing. A new Notice of Intent to Issue a Termination will accompany this final offer.
- If the HAC agrees with termination we will issue you a Notice of Termination, and the tenancy will end.
This process ensures fairness and transparency while prioritizing housing needs effectively.
If you’re being relocated for portfolio management purposes, for example because the property is being sold or redeveloped, you will receive up to two offers of housing.
If you reject the first offer, you can request a review. This is to ensure it was reasonable and met the housing entitlements in your relocation statement. If we determine the first offer was reasonable, we will send the details to the HAC for an accelerated appeal. You must have consented to this.
If HAC determine the first offer was reasonable, you will receive one further offer of housing. If HAC determine the offer was not reasonable, it will not count as an offer and you will still be eligible to receive up to two offers of housing.
For more information regarding examples of relocations for tenancy management purposes, refer to the relocation section of our Tenancy policy supplement.
For more information on offers, visit social housing offers.
The time it takes to move you will depend on the type of relocation and the availability of properties that match your requirements. Each relocation happens on a case by case basis and can occur in a matter of weeks or quite a few months, depending on the circumstances.
If you reject the first reasonable offer of alternative housing, we will notify you of our intent to seek to end your tenancy through NCAT when the final offer is made. Visit notice of termination for more information.
If you are on the NSW Housing Register for relocation and requested a transfer due to under-occupancy (having more bedrooms than allowed), rejecting two reasonable housing offers will result in a vacant bedroom charge.
For more information visit vacant bedroom charge.
If you disagree with the decision we’ve made, talk to your client service officer. If you’re still not satisfied, you can ask to have the decision reviewed. For more information visit appeals and reviewing decisions.
You cannot appeal our decision to move you or the decision by Homes NSW to apply the vacant bedroom charge.
If you don’t agree with the reason for the notice of termination, you can contact one of the following services:
- Tenants’ Union of NSW: 1800 251 101 (Monday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm)
- NSW Fair Trading: 133 220
- Legal Aid NSW: 1300 888 529
- Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (local numbers provided)