A mother and daughter have been accused in court of subletting their public housing accommodation in the famed Sirius building overlooking Sydney Harbour and pocketing nearly $150,000 over five years.

It is alleged they moved out of their taxpayer subsidised home and were subletting it to make thousands in extra cash.

Genute Balsiene and her daughter Saule Baslyte leave the Downing Centre Courts. Credit:Jessica Hromas

Genute Balsiene, aged 62, and her daughter Saule Baslyte have been charged with 52 counts of fraudulently failing to notify NSW Housing of a change in circumstances, including that they had moved out and were charging new tenants up to $700 a week to live in their subsidised harbourside home.

They have pleaded not guilty.