Financial Relief – WA Residential Tenants and Landlords

A $154.5m relief package to support tenants, landlords and the construction industry has been announced, of which the WA Government has also committed $30m for grants of up to $2000 for private residential tenants who have lost their job and are facing financial hardship.

Below we set out the eligibility requirements. asset_49.png

ELIGIBILITY - TENANTS 

  • Assists private renters in Western Australia experiencing financial hardship due to losing their job on or after 20 March 2020 as a result of COVID-19.
  • Tenant will need to lodge their revised agreement for reduced rent with Consumer Protection WA as part of your application.

Additional eligibility criteria applies including:

  • Tenant is a resident in WA
  • A permanent resident, Australian citizen, have a temporary or permanent protection visa or bridging visa
  • A tenancy bond with the Bond Administrator has been lodged or will be lodged
  • Lives in a private residential tenancy agreement, rooming house or residential park
  • In ‘financial hardship’, meaning you:
    • Have lost your job on or after 20 March 2020
    • Have applied for Centrelink income support
    • Have less than $10k of household savings
    • Are currently paying rent of at least 25% of the total household income after tax
  • You have agreed to a reduction in rent with your landlord or have engaged in the Residential Tenancy Mandatory Conciliation service through Consumer Protection.

GRANT tenants

  • The grant will be equivalent to the difference between the usual rent and the newly negotiated rent rate for a four week period up to a maximum of $2000, whichever is the lesser
  • Applied for by the tenant but is paid directly to the landlord
  • The grant will not have to be repaid by either landlord or tenant although the landlord may need to offset any deferred rental debt by the amount of any grant that is made to them.

Other things to note:

Applications will be available online from 1 May 2020. Further details on the application and supporting evidence required can be found by clicking here.

This new package complements the $1.7 billion in relief measures already announced for businesses and households. Should you require assistance with the application of any of the stimulus and relief measures, please contact your local RSM adviser.