Remote rent framework

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.

Information in language

Listen to or download information in the following languages:

• Alyawarr MP3 (876.0 KB)
• Western Arrarnta MP3 (1.2 MB)
• Eastside Kriol MP3 (851.1 KB)
• Westside Kriol MP3 (938.3 KB)
• Yolngu Matha (Djambarrpuyngu) MP3 (1.5 MB)