The Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme has expanded to assist tenants facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic to pay their rent debt. This next phase of the rent relief grant assists landlords who reduced, deferred or waived rent during the emergency period under the Residential Tenancies (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020.
Before you can apply for the Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme, you must meet the eligibility criteria. At any time you may be asked to prove what you declare in your application. This means that you will need to ensure you have evidence to support your application in case it is requested.
Your patience is appreciated and our team will work as quickly as possible to process applications. The time taken varies as the team makes sure eligibility requirements are met - complicated applications, or incorrect or incomplete applications, may take longer to be assessed.
Lost your job = this eligibility criterion also includes a reduction of 50 per cent or more of your after-tax income, and includes if you are self-employed, a sole trader, a casual worker or a contractor.
You are eligible for the grant if:
Note: Your rent is the amount that was payable per week as at 1 December 2020.
You are not eligible for the grant if:
Download and complete the application form and return it to us by:
Email:
Post:
Residential Rent Relief Grant
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
Locked Bag 100
EAST PERTH WA 6892
We will accept applications until 28 June 2021 or earlier, depending on whether the total grant funding of $30 million is claimed prior to this date.
You do not need to provide any documentation in support of your initial application. We may ask for supporting documents once we assess your application.
Documents you may need to make available include:
Rent arrears is unpaid rent as at 1 December 2020. This includes where the landlord has deferred payment until a future date, even if that date is after 1 December 2020.
Waived rent is where the landlord has agreed to the tenant not paying all or part of the rent, with this amount not having to be repaid in future. This includes if a landlord agrees with a tenant to temporarily reduce rent for a period of time without requiring the tenant to repay the difference at a later stage.
As long as the agreement continues for a minimum of six months from 29 March 2021, and you meet the other criteria, you are eligible for the grant.
The landlord and tenant will need to agree on the terms and conditions of any lease and this may include an increase in rent.
There are options to help negotiate an affordable rent increase. The Residential Tenancies Mandatory Conciliation Service can help tenants and landlords agree on an amount of rent that is acceptable to both parties.
Important reminder: a lease must be in place with the existing tenant for six months beyond 29 March 2021, otherwise the tenant is not eligible for the grant.
It is a reduction of your income earned from working and does not include income support from Centrelink.
It is your current personal after-tax income that determines eligibility. This may be from Centrelink income support payments or any income you receive from other sources including interest from investments. However, in relation to a reduction of 50 per cent or more of your weekly income under the question "Are you, or were you unemployed, having lost your job or 50 per cent of your income on or after 20 March 2020 due to COVID-19?” on the application form, this does not include income support from Centrelink.
Similar to personal income, savings refers to the total amount of savings held in bank accounts.
A private residential property is one that is privately owned by a landlord or company and excludes social and public housing. Generally the owner manages the property or contracts a licensed real estate agency to do so.
Yes, provided each tenant meets the eligibility criteria, you are entitled to a grant for each of the rent debts incurred.
A key condition for landlords to receive the funding is that a fixed-term tenancy agreement of six months or longer beyond 29 March 2021 exists or is entered into with the existing tenant.
Landlords will be paid direct one-off grants equivalent to 75 per cent, up to $4,000, of the accrued rent arrears incurred during the emergency period. This includes where a landlord has agreed to allow a tenant to defer payment for a period of time.
Landlords will be paid direct one-off grants equivalent to 75 per cent, up to $4,000, of the accrued rent arrears incurred during the emergency period. This includes where a landlord has agreed with a tenant to temporarily reduce the rent for the premises without requiring the tenant to repay the difference at a later stage.
The tenant applies for the grant but it will be paid directly to the landlord. Both the landlord and tenant must agree to the Terms and Conditions detailed in the application form before the grant is paid.
No, the grant will not have to be repaid by either landlord or tenant.
The tenant needs to benefit as a result of the grant and the landlord must offset debt accrued during the emergency period as at 1 December 2020 or offset any rent waived during the emergency period as at 1 December 2020.
All parties must comply with the ordinary provisions under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 from 29 March 2021.
Consumer Protection provides a COVID-19 Residential Tenancies Mandatory Conciliation Service to assist tenants and landlords reach agreement. Call 1300 304 054 or email tenancyhelp@dmirs.wa.gov.au.
Applications may be submitted until 28 June 2021.
Before proceeding ensure you meet the eligibility criteria.
The information provided on this page was accurate at the time of publishing, but may change without notice and be updated by Consumer Protection WA at any time.
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