National Rental Affordability Scheme

National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS)

The National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS or the Scheme) is a partnership between the Australian Government and the states and territories to invest in affordable rental housing.

The Scheme seeks to address the shortage of affordable rental housing for low and moderate income households.  It does this by ensuring that NRAS accommodation is rented out at a rate that is at least 20 per cent below the market value. St Thomas More College has 245 NRAS apartments available.  The Scheme has a number of terms and conditions relating to admission and eligibility that St Thomas More College must adhere to.

To be eligible you must have an annual income (in Australian Dollars) below $51,398 for the 12 months prior to your lease commencement date.

Please note, that the income threshold is reviewed and set by the Department of Social Services annually.

To enable St Thomas More College to assess your eligibility, you are required to:

• Complete a gross income assessment for the 12 month period prior to your lease commencement date;
• Provide relevant supporting documentation/evidence to prove your declared income amount (where applicable);
• Complete a Tenant Demographic Assessment form

Special Admission Conditions

St Thomas More College allocates NRAS rooms based on the conditions of the agreement with the Government which are to prioritise accommodation for students aged between 18-30 years along with:

• Students with low socio-economic status
• Indigenous Australian students
• Students that are located in rural and isolated areas of Western Australia relocating to Perth
• Students with disabilities and within the context of overcoming educational disadvantage associated with gender
• Women enrolled in non-traditional disciplines such as IT, engineering, architecture and postgraduate study.

St Thomas More College gives priority to the above-listed students as well as students from interstate.

First year students are customarily housed in standard rooms to enable them to take full advantage of the College’s orientation and transition to university programs as well as the enhanced pastoral care and access to mentoring that is available in this mode of accommodation.  International exchange and study abroad students are also housed in standard rooms except at the discretion of the College.