Paying Your Rent with Oxford Agency

At Oxford Agency, we believe paying your rent should be straightforward, convenient and accessible, without unnecessary fees.

We offer tenants fee-free rent payment options, including Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and Centrepay, giving you flexibility in how you manage your rental payments.

Whether you’re setting up your rent payments for the first time, considering Centrepay or simply want to understand your options, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions below.

1. What payment methods does Oxford Agency accept?

Oxford Agency offers two fee-free methods for paying rent:

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
Tenants can pay their rent directly into Oxford Agency’s nominated trust account using internet banking.

When making a payment, please ensure you use your allocated rental payment reference so that your payment can be correctly identified and allocated to your tenancy.

Centrepay
Centrepay is a voluntary bill-paying service provided by Services Australia. It allows eligible Centrelink customers to arrange regular deductions from their Centrelink payments to pay approved expenses, including rent.

Both options are fee-free for tenants.

2. What is Centrepay?
Centrepay is a free and voluntary service offered by Services Australia to eligible Centrelink customers.

It allows you to have an agreed amount automatically deducted from your Centrelink payment and paid directly to an approved business, such as Oxford Agency, towards your rent.

Centrepay can help tenants manage their rental commitments by arranging regular payments without needing to manually transfer funds each time.

3. How does Centrepay work?
Once your Centrepay deduction has been authorised and established:

1. You nominate the amount you wish to have deducted from your eligible Centrelink payment.
2. Services Australia deducts the agreed amount when your Centrelink payment is processed.
3. The deducted amount is paid directly to Oxford Agency.
4. Oxford Agency allocates the payment to your rental ledger.

It’s important to ensure your nominated deduction amount is sufficient to meet your rental obligations.

4. Who is eligible to use Centrepay?
Centrepay is available to customers receiving eligible Centrelink payments.

Eligibility depends on the type of Centrelink payment you receive and the applicable Services Australia requirements.

You can check your eligibility through your Centrelink online account or by contacting Services Australia.

5. Does Oxford Agency charge a fee to use Centrepay?
No. Centrepay is completely fee-free for tenants.

Oxford Agency does not charge tenants an administration or processing fee for using Centrepay to pay their rent.

6. How do I set up Centrepay for my rent?
If you would like to use Centrepay to pay your rent through Oxford Agency, please contact our Property Management Team for the relevant business and payment details.

You can arrange a deduction using the available Services Australia channels, including your Centrelink online account through myGov.

You will need to authorise the deduction and nominate the amount to be paid.

7. Can I change, suspend or cancel my Centrepay deduction?
Yes. Centrepay is voluntary, and you remain in control of your deductions.

You can change, suspend or cancel your Centrepay deduction at any time by:

• Using your Centrelink online account through myGov.
• Using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
• Calling Services Australia on your regular payment line.
• Visiting a Services Australia service centre.

Important: Changing or cancelling your Centrepay deduction does not change your obligations under your residential tenancy agreement. You must continue to ensure your rent is paid in full and on time.

8. Can I pay my rent by EFT instead of Centrepay?
Absolutely.

Electronic Funds Transfer is another fee-free payment option available to Oxford Agency tenants.

You can arrange payments through your financial institution using the trust account details and payment reference provided by our Property Management Team.

9. What happens if I accidentally overpay my rent through Centrepay?
Oxford Agency has an Incorrect Payment Management Procedure to identify, investigate and rectify incorrect Centrepay payments.

Incorrect payments may include duplicate deductions, payments exceeding the amount due or authorised, or payments received after a tenancy has ended.

An incorrect payment also includes a credit balance held on your behalf that is not likely to be used within six months.

Where Oxford Agency identifies an incorrect payment and escalation to Services Australia is not required, we will arrange for the payment to be refunded within 10 business days.

10. What happens to my Centrepay deductions when my tenancy ends?
If your tenancy is coming to an end, you should review your Centrepay arrangement to ensure deductions do not continue unnecessarily.

Oxford Agency also reviews Centrepay arrangements as tenancies approach termination to help prevent incorrect payments.

If an incorrect payment is received after your tenancy ends, it will be managed in accordance with our Incorrect Payment Management Procedure.

11. Who should I contact if I have questions about my rent payments?
If you have questions about your rental ledger, EFT payments, Centrepay deductions or a possible incorrect payment, please contact Oxford Agency’s Property Management Team.

If you have any questions regarding fee-free rental payments, contact our friendly property management team today.