National Rental Affordability Scheme

There are 50 NRAS-approved studio dwellings at Miguel Cordero Residence.

In accordance with NRAS requirements, ACU will offer you a 52 week lease. Should you wish to discuss a shorter or longer lease term, please feel free to discuss your requirements with one of our staff members.

Yes, international students can apply as long as they meet the eligibility criteria (refer to questions five and six).

The annual income limits specified below applies for 2017-2018 NRAS year (indexed in accordance with the NRAS tenant income index on 1 May each year).

• Provide the most recent payslip from each Australian or international employer (showing your year-to-date income)
• Provide a letter from each Australian or international employer (showing your year-to-date income)
• Provide notices of assessment for annual tax returns (e.g. Tax Group Certificate)
• Provide statements from Centrelink
• Any stipends received (including parents/guardians) is considered as income
• International students who have not earned more than AU$50,489 during the past 12 months and who currently receive a small stipend from their parents/guardians towards rent and living expenses can submit a letter from their parents/guardians
• Please ask Miguel Cordero Residence staff for further assistance if you are unsure of what documents need to be provided.

Income information is gathered solely for the purpose of assessing eligibility for an NRAS-approved studio at Miguel Cordero Residence.

Your application for an NRAS-approved studio at Miguel Cordero Residence may not be approved even if you are eligible. It will depend on the availability of NRAS-approved dwellings.

If you are not eligible for an NRAS-approved studio, the manager at Miguel Cordero Residence, subject to availability and suitability, may offer you a non-NRAS dwelling.

Preferences for NRAS-approved studios are given in the following order:

• Australian residents living outside Sydney
• Australian residents living in Sydney
• Non-Australian residents.

• Proof of income (refer to question six)
• AMC Income Assessment Form
• TDA Form (Tennant Demography).

At Miguel Cordero Residence, only some studio apartments are NRAS approved. Since all studio apartments can only be occupied by ONE person at all times, the household income is based on one occupant – that is the student’s income only.

Both NRAS-approved studios and standard studios have the same inclusions. The only difference is that one is part of the Australian Government’s NRAS Scheme and the other is not.

The market value of the NRAS-approved studio at Miguel Cordero Residence is determined by an independent property valuer (market valuation) and the residential fees for the NRAS dwellings are then set at 20 per cent below this market valuation. The University’s student residences are already set below market rates.

Application stage – If your income exceeds the initial income limit at the application stage, you may be considered for another non-NRAS dwelling, subject to availability and suitability.

During term of tenancy – If your income exceeds the upper income limit during the term of your tenancy:

• You must notify the manager at Miguel Cordero Residence in writing immediate
• You will no longer be eligible to live in the NRAS-approved studio apartment under the NRAS conditions
• Miguel Cordero Residence may offer you another non-NRAS dwelling for the balance of your unexpired term, subject to availability and suitability.

Australian (Federal) Government Department of Social Services

Government of New South Wales Department of Family and Community Services