Remote rent
On 3 December 2025, the High Court of Australia found that the framework previously used to set rent for remote public housing tenants in the Northern Territory (Remote Rent Framework) was not valid.
The department respects this decision and is reviewing rent and carefully working through the implications for remote housing tenants.
Current rent arrangements
In February 2026, the Housing Act 1982 was amended to enable the NT Government to continue to set rent for public housing tenants.
Under the Act, the minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Development has now set rent for remote public housing at the same level as under the previous Remote Rent Framework.
This means there is no change to the amount of rent remote public housing tenants currently pay.
Review of past rent
The department will review rent payments made between February 2023 and February 2026 to make sure they were calculated correctly.
If we identify anything that affects tenants, we will contact you and explain what it means.
New remote rent framework
The department will work with stakeholders to develop a new remote rent model. It is intended that this will be in place by the end of 2026.
The image shows how rent was set before February 2026, how it is set now and how it is expected to be set from the end of 2026.
For more information, please call or visit your local housing office.
Remote public housing contacts
Local housing offices are:
- open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
- closed on public holidays.
| Region | Contact number |
|---|---|
| Arnhem region | 08 8987 0530 |
| Barkly region | 08 8962 4228 |
| Big Rivers region | 08 8973 8513 |
| Central Australia | 08 8951 5252 |
| Top End | 08 8995 5122 |
