Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme

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Landlord / lessorTenantProperty industry

The State Government is making available $30 million for grants of up to $2,000 for Western Australian private residential tenants who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on or after 20 March 2020, and are facing financial hardship.

Please read all information on this page before attempting to submit an application 

Before you can apply for the Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme, you must meet the eligibility criteria. You do not need to provide any documentation in support of your initial application however, 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.

Due to the expected high demand for grants which will be individually assessed, we anticipate the processing of applications may take some time. Your patience is appreciated as our team works 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.  

Terms we use on this page

  • Tenant = all tenants in private rental homes, long-stay residents in residential parks, and boarders and lodgers.
  • Sub-tenant = someone who has entered into a separate verbal or written rental agreement with a tenant named on a rental agreement.
  • Landlord = lessors, property managers, owners, park operators, and providers of boarding and lodging accommodation.

Topic categories:

Applying for the grant

Who is eligible for the grant?

You are eligible for the grant if -

  • You are a tenant or sub-tenant in a residential property, or a resident living in a rooming house, or residential park
  • You live in Western Australia and you are permitted to live and work in Australia
  • If you live in a residential property, you have, or shortly will have, lodged a tenancy bond with the Bond Administrator
  • You are in ‘financial hardship’, meaning 
    • You lost your job on or after 20 March 2020 due to COVID-19; and
    • You have less than $10,000 in personal savings; and
    • You pay more than 25 per cent of your current after-tax income in rent per week

Note: Your rent is the amount that was payable per week as at 20 March 2020.

Who is not eligible for the grant?

You are not eligible for the grant if -

  • You have not lost your job (e.g. you are not unemployed or you attract JobKeeper payments for your employer)
  • You have more than $10,000 in personal savings
  • You pay less than 25 per cent of your current after-tax income in rent per week
  • You are not permitted to live in Australia
  • You do not have permission to work in Australia
  • Where a tenant or landlord does not accept the Terms and Conditions

How do I apply?

The online form for applications is open until 29 September 2020, however the total grant funding is $30 million which, depending on demand, may be claimed prior to this date. 

What will I need to support my application?

You will need to provide the name and contact details of the private landlord or the real estate agency managing the property you rent.

You do not need to provide any documentation in support of your initial application however, at any time you may be asked to prove what you are declaring. This means that you will need to ensure you have evidence to support your application in case it is requested.

Documents you may wish to have available as they may be requested include:

  • Tenancy/accommodation agreement/proof of rent payable at 20 March 2020
  • Notice of termination of employment on or after 20 March 2020
  • Proof you have less than $10,000 in savings (copies of bank statements or balance slips)
  • Proof of any income (Centrelink payment notice, bank statements) 
  • Proof of your entitlement to reside in Australia - citizenship, permanent residency, protection visa, or bridging visa (birth certificate, VEVO certificate, copy of visa or citizenship certificate, passport)
  • Proof of your entitlement to work in Australia (Australian birth certificate, passport, citizenship papers, copy of visa with conditions)
  • If you have lodged a bond with the Bond Administrator, proof of bond lodgment, or proof bond will be registered with the Bond Administrator

What is meant by personal income?

It is your current personal after-tax income that determines eligibility. This may be from Centrelink income support payments, interest from investments, or any other income you receive from other sources.

What is meant by personal savings?

Similar to personal income, savings refers to the total amount of savings held in bank accounts.

What is meant by a private residential property?

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 themselves or contracts a licensed real estate agency to do so.

Receiving the grant

How is the amount of rent relief determined?

The grant is paid to the landlord and will be equivalent to four-weeks' rent up to a maximum of $2,000, whichever is the lesser. However, the tenant needs to benefit as a result of the grant and the Terms and Conditions ensure that the landlord must offset the amount of the grant against the rent otherwise payable by the tenant.

How is it paid?

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 before the grant is paid.

Will I have to pay back the grant?

No, the grant will not have to be repaid by either landlord or tenant.

What happens after the grant is paid?

The tenant needs to benefit as a result of the grant and the landlord must offset the amount of the grant against the rent otherwise payable by the tenant.  
 
The decision about how the grant is to be offset against your rent is to be a mutually negotiated outcome. It is not acceptable for a landlord or real estate agent to dictate how the grant is to be applied.
 
Some examples of how this might be achieved include:
  • no payment of rent for four weeks
  • a reduction in the rent payable for a period of time or 
  • a reduction in any arrears you owe at the end of the emergency period

Both tenants and landlords may wish to view the Consumer Protection Guidelines for rent repayment agreements and Optional rent repayment agreement template for information about negotiating a reduced rent agreement.

If a tenant and landlord need help to agree on a reduced rent arrangement, where can they go?

Consumer Protection provides a new 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.

More information

Is there a paper copy of the form?

Due to the large volume of applications expected, if you have access to a computer with internet access it is quicker and more efficient to submit your application online.

If you do not have access to a computer then we can post out a paper form. 

Completed applications can be posted to the department or dropped off at one of our offices throughout the state. 

For more details call Consumer Protection on 1300 304 054.

How can I share information about the grant?

You can share a link to this page or download a poster to print or share.

Ready to submit your application for the Residential Rent Relief Grant?

Before proceeding ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. 

Note: The online form is not supported in Internet Explorer. Please ensure you access the form via a different browser. 

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