All tenants in private rental homes, long-stay residents in residential parks, and boarders and lodgers in rooming houses.

Someone who has entered into a separate verbal or written rental agreement with a tenant named on a rental agreement.

Lessors, property managers, owners, park operators, and providers of boarding and lodging accommodation.

General eligibility criteria:

• You live in WA and are permitted to live and work in Australia;
• You are in financial hardship, meaning you:
  • have less than $10,000 in savings; and
  • pay more than 25 per cent of your income in rent per week;
• You are tenant or sub-tenant in a private residential property, or a resident in a rooming house, or in a residential park (includes community housing);
• You had a residential tenancy agreement in place as at 1 December 2020 (includes boarders and lodgers with an agreement)*;
• You have a bond lodged with the Bond Administrator (if required under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987); and
• You and your current landlord have entered into a fixed-term tenancy agreement that continues for six months or longer beyond 29 March 2021.**

You are eligible for rent arrears assistance if:

• You are, or were, unemployed, having lost your job or 50 per cent of your income on or after 20 March 2020 due to COVID-19; or you were in receipt of a Centrelink payment*** (excluding JobKeeper), during the emergency period; and
• You have rent arrears (unpaid or deferred rent)**** or rent waived (or reduced) as at 1 December 2020; and
• You meet all of the general eligibility criteria listed at the top of this section.

You are eligible for future rent support if:

• You currently receive Centrelink payments***; and
• You are facing a significant rent increase, greater than the normal market rate of five per cent a year; and
• You meet all of the general eligibility criteria listed at the top of this section.

Explanatory notes

1. * You must still be living at the same property.
2. ** If you and your landlord are willing to enter into a fixed-term tenancy agreement that continues for six months or longer beyond 29 March 2021, you may still be eligible. 
3. *** Centrelink payment must be your primary source of income. 
4. **** Any unpaid or deferred rent must still be owing.

Note: Your rent is the amount payable per week as at 1 December 2020.

To assess your initial eligibility try our two-minute Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme eligibility check (external site).

You are not eligible for the grant if:

• You do not currently live in WA and are not permitted to live and work in Australia; or
• You are not in financial hardship, meaning you:
  • have more than $10,000 in savings; and
  • pay 25 per cent or less of your income in rent per week; or
• You are not a tenant or sub-tenant in a private residential property, or a resident in a rooming house, or in a residential park (includes community housing); or
• You did not have a residential tenancy agreement in place as at 1 December 2020; or
• You do not have a bond lodged with the Bond Administrator (if required under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987); or
• You and your current landlord have not entered into a fixed-term tenancy agreement that continues for six months or longer beyond 29 March 2021 and neither party is willing to do so; or
• You or your landlord do not accept the Terms and Conditions.

In addition:

You are not eligible for rent arrears assistance if:

• You are not, or were not, unemployed, or did not lose your job or 50 per cent of your income on or after 20 March 2020 due to COVID-19; or you were not in receipt of a Centrelink payment (excluding JobKeeper) as your primary source of income during the emergency period; or
• You do not have rent arrears (unpaid or deferred rent) as at 1 December 2020 still owing, or rent waived (or reduced) as at 1 December 2020; or
• You do not meet the general eligibility criteria.

You are not eligible for future rent support if:

• You are not receiving Centrelink payments as a primary source of income; or
• You are not facing a significant rent increase, greater than the normal market rate of five per cent a year; or
• You do not meet the general eligibility criteria.

To assess your initial eligibility try our two-minute Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme eligibility check (external site).

Rent arrears assistance is to help with rent debt. The tenant needs to benefit as a result of the grant and the landlord must offset rent arrears (unpaid or deferred) or any rent waived (or reduced) during the emergency period as at 1 December 2020.  

Future rent support is to help with a significant rent increase, which is greater than the normal market rate of five per cent a year.

It is possible for applicants to be eligible for rent arrears assistance and future rent support at the same time. If so, the processing officer can calculate which grant is of the greatest benefit and this will be given to the applicant. 

Debt accrued by the tenant as at 1 December 2020 for not paying rent during the emergency period, includes unpaid and deferred rent (expected to be paid back). This includes where the landlord has deferred payment until a future date, even if that date is after 1 December 2020.

As at 1 December 2020, the landlord had agreed to the tenant paying a reduced rent for a period of time and deferred payment of the amount reduced until after the emergency period (expected to be paid back).

As at 1 December 2020, the landlord had agreed to the tenant not paying all or part of the accumulated rent arrears, with this amount not having to be repaid in future (not expected to be paid back).

As at 1 December 2020, the landlord had agreed to temporarily reduce rent for a period of time without requiring the tenant to repay the difference at a later stage (not expected to be paid back).

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.

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. 

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 or contracts a licensed real estate agency to do so.

As long as the agreement continues for a minimum of six months from 29 March 2021, and you meet the other criteria, you could be 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 if you receive a rent increase that you believe is not affordable. The Residential Tenancies Mandatory Conciliation Service can help tenants and landlords agree on an amount of rent that is acceptable to both parties.

Future rent support may be available - see the eligibility criteria above for details. 

Important reminder: you must have a lease in place with the existing landlord for six months beyond 29 March 2021, otherwise you are not eligible for the grant.

The Residential Tenancies Mandatory Conciliation Service will assist tenants and landlords to come together and negotiate a tenancy agreement that is acceptable to both parties.

Consumer Protection provides a Residential Tenancies Mandatory Conciliation Service to assist tenants and landlords reach agreement. Call 1300 304 054 or email tenancyhelp@dmirs.wa.gov.au.

To apply, complete the online application form linked at the bottom of this page. 

Please note: PDF application forms labelled "Application Form – Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme ‘E’" will no longer be accepted. 

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 that may be required include:

• Evidence of a fixed-term agreement that continues for a minimum of six months beyond 29 March 2021
• A copy of the rent ledger maintained by the landlord as at 1 December 2020
• Notice of termination of employment or a stand-down notice on or after 20 March 2020 or evidence of a reduction of 50 per cent or more of your after-tax income
• 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 lodgement, or proof bond will be registered with the Bond Administrator

Due to the large volume of applications expected, if you have access to a computer 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.

Please note: PDF application forms labelled "Application Form – Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme ‘E’" are no longer accepted. 

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. 

Accrued rent arrears

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.

Waived rent arrears

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.

All parties must comply with the ordinary provisions under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 from 29 March 2021.

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

No. While applicants may be eligible for rent arrears assistance and future rent support at the same time, the processing officer can calculate which grant is of the greatest benefit and this will be given to the applicant. 

Yes, provided each tenant meets the eligibility criteria, you are entitled to a grant for each of the rent debts incurred.