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 (if required under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987).
• You are in "financial hardship", meaning 
  • You lost your job on or after 20 March 2020 due to COVID-19 and remain unemployed, or secured employment and then returned to unemployment due to COVID-19; and
  • You have less than $10,000 in personal savings; and
  • You pay 25 per cent or more of your current after-tax income in rent per week.

Note: Your rent is the amount that was payable per week as at 30 September 2020.

You are not eligible for the grant if:

• You have not lost your job (e.g. you are not currently unemployed or you attract Jobkeeper payments from your employer, you have not had a reduction of 75 per cent or more of your after-tax income, you were unemployed prior to 20 March 2020 and remain unemployed).)
• 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.
• A tenant or landlord does not accept the Terms and Conditions.

The online form for applications is open until 28 March 2021.  However the total grant funding is $30 million which, depending on demand, may be claimed from prior to this date. 

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 need to make available include:

• Tenancy/accommodation agreement/proof of rent payable at 30 September 2020
• Notice of termination of employment or a stand-down notice on or after 20 March 2020 or evidence of a reduction of 75 per cent or more of your after-tax income
• Proof of continued unemployment as at 30 September 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 lodgement, or proof bond will be registered with the Bond Administrator

It is a reduction of your income earned from working and does not include income support from Centrelink.

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

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 75 per cent or more of your weekly income under the question "Did you lose your job due to COVID-19 on or after 20 March 2020 and remain unemployed, or secured employment and then returned to unemployment due to COVID-19?", this does not include income support from Centrelink.

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.

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.

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.

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

• no payment of rent for four weeks
• a reduction in the rent payable for a period of time
• 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.

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.

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.

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