Shared housing is an affordable and flexible way to live, offering companionship, security, and a sense of community. By sharing rent and household costs, it eases financial pressure and allows people to live in areas that might otherwise be out of reach. It helps reduce loneliness, encourages connection, and provides everyday support while maintaining independence. Living with others can build cooperation, adaptability, and peace of mind — making shared housing a practical, social, and rewarding choice for many. Shared living can also be a more sustainable lifestyle, lowering environmental impact.

You will need to be a single woman who is 55 years and older, be on the social housing register and want to live in South Western Sydney.

Once you move into a Stronger Together property and sign a lease, your housing assistance application with Homes NSW will be updated. You will no longer be on the social housing waitlist, as you have now been allocated a social housing tenancy through the Women’s Housing Company.

No, case management is not a requirement of your lease in Stronger Together. However, we encourage you to stay connected with your support agency or community services if you have them, as they can help you settle in, navigate any challenges, and maintain a positive tenancy experience.

You can expect to pay up to 25% of your income on rent however, it will likely be less as the entire household rent will be capped at 74.9% of the market value. This offers significant savings in comparison to independent social housing.

No, when you sign your tenancy agreement two weeks of rent is required upfront. Women’s Housing Company will work with you to establish a suitable repayment plan if you don’t have access to the full two weeks rent. This will not be a barrier to securing your tenancy.

Yes. The properties will be head leased by Women’s Housing Company from local real estate agents. Women’s Housing Company will sublease to you and other residents as co-tenants. Each person will have their own residential tenancy agreement ensuring full tenant rights. The lease will be supplemented by a Share Housing Agreement that you will create in collaboration with your roommates.  

The home will not come furnished, which is standard for social/community housing properties. However, the Women’s Housing Company can help by providing referrals for material aid and working with your support agency to explore any available assistance for furniture costs. As this will be your long-term home, furnishing it yourself is also a lovely way to make the space your own and create a comfortable, personal environment. 

Yes, we encourage you to talk about this during the connection phase, when you’ll have the chance to meet potential housemates and discuss what feels comfortable for everyone. You’re welcome to bring and store personal belongings at the property, as long as it remains safe, tidy, and manageable for all who share the home. 

The Women’s Housing Company will help your household set up utilities such as electricity, gas, and internet through MyConnect. These services will be placed under the Women’s Housing Company’s name. Sydney Water will be billed separately, as your property has its own water meter. You’ll be charged for the actual water you use, based on the local water authority’s bill, and the total cost will be shared equally between all tenants. All utility costs will be shared evenly between tenants, and the Women’s Housing Company will receive the bills directly and then send individual invoices to each tenant for their share.

Women’s Housing Company. For all tenancy and maintenance matters, Women’s Housing Company will be your primary contact. We will liaise directly with the Real Estate Agent on your behalf.

If a disagreement arises, you can refer to the Shared Housing Agreement that you and your housemates created when your tenancy began. This agreement sets out how you’ve all chosen to manage shared responsibilities, communicate, and resolve issues together. The agreement is reviewed regularly during house meetings, giving everyone a chance to talk about what’s working well and make changes if needed. If extra support is required, your Tenancy Manager can help by referring you to external counselling or mediation services. Because Stronger Together uses a connection-first approach, you’ll also have had the chance to meet and choose compatible housemates before moving in, helping to prevent many issues before they arise.

If one housemate decides to move out, you can stay in your home and your tenancy won’t be affected. Please note that if your rent was reduced because it was shared between two tenants under a rent ceiling, your rent may increase temporarily until a new housemate moves in. Women’s Housing Company will work quickly with you to find another suitable housemate so the shared arrangement can continue.

As is with all social housing tenancies, you will be entitled to lodge a Change of Circumstances to be assessed by Women’s Housing Company so that you may be waitlisted then allocated for another suitable property. If you wish to move into independent housing in the private rental market, you must provide at least 14 days’ notice to Women’s Housing Company before departure.  

Women’s Housing Company will work with all sharing tenants to secure another suitable head lease property.