Relocation Entitlements

The type of housing you are entitled to will depend on your rank and your Defence categorisation. The Department of Defence approves the recognition of dependants, and where necessary, may require you to supply appropriate legal documents such as a marriage certificate.

The following categories are used to determine the appropriate level of support a Defence member requires for accommodation and relocation entitlements and allowances.

Full details on housing assistance, entitlements and rates of allowances can be found in the Defence Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN) available on the Defence website by clicking here.

Member Without Dependants (MWOD)

Generally a single member without dependants.

Member With Dependants (MWD)

A member who maintains a home for dependants and lives in the home with one or more of those dependants. The dependants must be recognised by Defence and may encompass a spouse (married or de-facto), children (under 21) or dependant parents.

Member With Dependants (Unaccompanied) (MWD(U)

A member who maintains a home for dependants and who is separated from
those dependants for Service recognised reasons. This category recognises
that members with dependants sometimes go on a posting unaccompanied
by their dependants.

Members considering a posting without their dependants should submit an Application for Categorisation as a Member with Dependants (Unaccompanied) to their Commanding Officer in the new location as soon as possible. Once this form has been approved by the Commanding Officer, it will need to be submitted to DHA.

A MWD(U) has the same accommodation options as a Member Without Dependants (MWOD). However, a MWD(U) who owns a home in their posting locality may also be entitled to additional housing assistance. Contact your local HMC for more information.

A MWD(U) who is separated from their family due to Service requirements is not expected to maintain two households. Consequently, members will not be required to pay contributions for meals or accommodation when utilising LIA. Nor will they be required to make rent contributions when living in other Service subsidised accommodation. MWD(U) members who receive Rent Allowance are also entitled to a food allowance.

The family accommodation entitlement of a MWD(U) member will still remain at the locality where the family home is for the entire period the member is separated from their family due to Service requirements.

Changing marital or family situation

Any situation that causes a change to a member’s marital or family situation should be reported immediately to the member’s Commanding Officer or Officer Commanding and your local HMC. If a member is required to relocate as a result, they should ensure that their categorisation reflects their current personal situation.

Accommodation Entitlements

Based on your Defence categorisation, you may be entitled to one of the
following accommodation entitlements when posted to a new location:

• Living In Accommodation (LIA);
• Rent Allowance (RA) depending on your individual circumstances; or
• a DHA home (Service Residence)

Rent Allowance

Rent Allowance (RA) subsidises the member with the cost of renting a property in the private rental market.

On behalf of Defence, DHA administers the allocation of entitlement to RA for Defence members. Defence policy enables DHA to establish the entitlement to RA. Once your eligibility for RA is assessed and approved, you are required to find a suitable property in which you will be responsible for paying the rent to the landlord/agent. The RA subsidy will be paid to you to help cover the cost of the rent. The amount of subsidy paid is determined based on a number of criterion including:

• your rank;
• Defence Rent Ceilings;
• Property Rent;
• number of occupants; and
• dependant status.

Further details on RA can be found online in DHA’s Guide to Rent Allowance
(ask your local HMC for a paper copy).

Rent Allowance Calculator

Calculate your rent allowance entitlement.

Guide to Rent Allowance (PDF - 660 KB)

This guide is designed to explain your Rent Allowance (RA) entitlements.

Defence Pay and Conditions Manual

Refer to the Defence Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN) for details on your entitlements.

Forms and Guidelines

Guide to Rent Allowance (PDF - 660 KB)

Notification of Relocation - member expense (PDF - 204 KB)

Application for Rent Allowance (PDF - 78 KB)

Cease Rent Allowance Form (PDF - 73 KB)

Change to member share arrangements (PDF - 83 KB)

Details of Rental Property Search (PDF - 55 KB)

Member statement in lieu of lease and initial / final rent receipt (PDF - 80 KB)

Owner statement in lieu of lease and initial rent receipt (PDF - 85 KB)

Application for Variation of Payment of Rent Allowance on Increase / Decrease of Rent (PDF - 80 KB)

Tenancy release clause - example (PDF - 8.5 KB)

Owning a Suitable Home in a Posting Location

Members Without Dependants who own a suitable home in the posting locality are not eligible for LIA, surplus Service Residences or RA.

Members who own a suitable home in the location they are being posted to are not eligible for housing assistance. Members are required to declare ownership in the posting locality. If the house is occupied by tenants, you must arrange to have it vacated as soon as possible after notification of your posting to that locality.

If a member has doubts on the suitability of their own home for their current family situation, they may request that DHA undertakes an assessment to see if alternate accommodation arrangements can be made. DHA’s assessment is based on the Defence Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN) Chapter 7 guidelines.

Living Outside your Posting Locality

If you wish to reside in a property outside of your posting locality and be paid RA you will need to provide written permission from your Commanding Officer for you to live there.

Limitations may apply to the amount of RA payable depending on the rent ceilings applicable to your posting locality and the locality where you wish to reside. If you are considering living outside your posting locality you should discuss this with DHA staff in the first instance. The ‘Locality of Posting’ is further defined in the Defence Pay & Conditions Manual (PACMAN), Chapter 1

Members With Dependants

MWD have several accommodation options:

• A DHA home (Service Residence)
• Rent Allowance (only on approval)
• Rent Band Choice Housing
• Own home in the posting location.

Two Serving Members

The Application for Relocation and subsequent housing entitlements are considered based on the member of the highest rank or most senior, if the same rank.

DHA home (Service Residence)

The Department of Defence requires that MWD’s are accommodated in a DHA home. The member’s entitlement to the type and size of housing is dependent on their rank and number of dependants. Your DHA Relocation Consultant will be able to help you assess what type of DHA home you are entitled to, in accordance with PACMAN guidelines.

Rent Allowance

If a DHA home is not available, then Rent Allowance (RA) may be paid so that members can obtain accommodation through the private rental market. Under RA, a rental ceiling is applied for each locality based on the local rental market and the member’s housing entitlement. Rent ceilings are set by the Department of Defence on an annual basis.

When securing a rental property, DHA can provide assistance with advances for bond deposits and rent, which are then recovered by Defence through their pay system.

Rent Band Choice Housing

Under Rent Band Choice Housing members can make a selection from a range of accommodation options, including inner-city apartments, townhouses and well-located detached houses. Accommodation choices vary in each locality so contact your DHA Relocation Consultant for more information.

This option provides members from any rank group classification with greater flexibility in their housing choices. This voluntary option allows members to pay a higher or lower rental contribution for accommodation that better suits their lifestyle and personal circumstances.

Members are strongly encouraged to check the implications of their entitlements on their personal affairs such as taxation, child support payments or government payments such as Family Tax Benefit, prior to any application for entitlement. An information bulletin on taxation implications of these entitlements is available on request from Defence; taxation.management@defence.gov.au

House Hunting Trips

When searching for permanent accommodation in their new posting location, Defence members and their partners may be entitled to a house hunting trip to view DHA Service Residences or Rent Allowance properties, where approved. After approval by the gaining location DHA office, a member and/or their partner may be entitled to a house hunting trip of up to three days and three nights. Expenses for accommodation, meals, travel and car hire are reimbursed by DHA under this entitlement. You are required to keep receipts for reconciliation purposes.

The maximum entitlement that can be claimed depends upon whether the trip is undertaken by the Defence member alone or if accompanied by their partner. The current limits for expenditure on house hunting trips are detailed in the Defence Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN), Chapter 7.    

Pre-posting visits for Families with Special Needs    

If your family is caring for a family member with a special need you may be entitled to a pre-posting visit. This is administered by the Defence Community Organisation (DCO). For more information about this service contact your local DCO office.

Removal Travel

Defence pays for travel to the new posting locality when posted within Australia. The type of travel will generally be the most economical to Defence. Before approval is given for a particular form of travel, consideration is given to a range of factors, including the transport options available and fares and allowances for the member and any dependants.

Using your own Vehicle

When taking up a posting you may choose to travel by road using your own car. You may also choose an alternative route rather than the most direct route.
If you use an alternative means of travel and not the entitled means, Defence will normally only pay for whichever of these is the least expensive. Please note the cost comparison includes the fares available to Defence under its contract with Qantas.

Air Travel

In many cases, members will be entitled to air travel for themselves and their dependants. This will usually be the most cost-effective form of transport for travel to and from Darwin, between Tasmania and Melbourne and between a remote locality and the nearest capital city. Air travel is business class for Commodores, Brigadiers, Air Commodores and higher ranks. For all others, economy class applies.

Rail Travel

Rail travel by members and dependants is first class for all ranks and includes a sleeping berth for an overnight journey, if available.

Members travelling without their Dependants

A member who travels on posting without their dependants has the same entitlements as a member on temporary duty.

Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT)

For any enquiries or concerns regarding FBT issues, contact the Defence Tax Management Office on 1800 806 053