Victorian government announces $1500 rent-relief grants

The state government has announced a new rent relief package aimed at Victorians who are struggling to afford rental costs after losing part or all of their income due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

The payments of up to $1,500 will be paid directly to the landlord, agent or lessor if the applicants meet the eligibility criteria.

What you need to know

• The Victorian government has announced a second wave of rent-relief grants
• They will pay up to $1,500 directly to landlords or agents on your behalf
• Applications are yet to open at time of writing

Stay up to date with what’s happening in Melbourne here.

The rental relief payments are highly targeted towards those who are on the brink of losing their rentals and will not be eligible to people with over $2,000 in savings. To be eligible for the grant you will need to:

• Have lost income as a result of the pandemic on or after 27 May 2021;
• Have less than $2,000 in savings (excluding superannuation);
• Have a single income of less than $1,208.85 per week, or $1,813.46 as a couple, aligning to an annual income limit of $62,860 for singles, and $94,300 for couples;
• Provide proof of a rent reduction agreement for a period after 27 May 2021; and
• Be paying more than 30% of your income in rent.

$1,500 is the most applicants are eligible for, with the government set to calculate the amount when they assess applications. The amount of grant is dependent on income, and the level of reduced rent applicants are paying. The grant is to be calculated as follows:

• Where the dollar value of the amount the applicant is in rental hardship (calculated as the amount paid in rent above 30% of the applicant’s income) is $77 per week or more, the applicant will receive the full $1,500 grant.
• Where the dollar value of the amount the applicant is in rental hardship is less than $77 per week, the grant will be calculated as 19.5 weeks multiplied by the amount the applicant is paying more than 30% of their income.

This is the second rent relief grant the Victorian government has offered, after original grants of $3,000 were offered until March 28 2021. Like its predecessor, this a one-off grant, and can be combined with rent-reduction negotiations with landlords themselves.

Applications will be submitted via an online portal through the Victorian government’s housing portfolio, which is still under development.

To check for updates or find more information, visit the state government’s website here.