From 2 March 2026, landlords and real estate agents in NSW must allow tenants to pay their rent using Centrepay if the tenant chooses this option.
Centrepay is a voluntary service from Services Australia that lets Centrelink recipients have rent and other essential bills automatically deducted from their benefits and paid directly to landlords or agents.
Agents and landlords cannot charge tenants fees for rent paid through Centrepay. No administrative or processing costs are allowed, ensuring Centrelink tenants pay rent fairly without added expenses.
If a tenant wants to pay rent via Centrepay, the landlord or agent must allow it but only needs to register if a tenant actually requests this option. There’s no need to register with Centrepay if tenants do not request it.
For most property managers, the operational impact is relatively minor. Agencies may simply need to ensure they are able to receive the payments and correctly allocate them when they arrive. It is also worth remembering that Centrepay deductions may follow the tenant’s Centrelink payment cycle, which may not always align with traditional weekly rent cycles.
More information can be found here:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/landlords/using-centrepay-to-receive-payment-of-rent