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Your location: Home > Loans and grants > Rental Grants > General information about Rental Grants

What is a Rental Grant?

A Rental Grant is a once-only grant of two weeks rent to help meet some of the costs associated with moving into private rental accommodation. The grant does not have to be repaid, and it helps people experiencing a housing crisis.

Am I eligible for a Rental Grant?

You may be eligible for a Rental Grant if:

• you are eligible for a Bond Loan;
• you live in Queensland;
• you are not currently living in the premises for which the Bond Loan is required;
  EXCEPTION: This criteria does not apply if you are a resident of a boarding house, aged rental accommodation or supported accommodation and have paid no bond to either your lessor/agent or service/manager provider or the Residential Tenancies Authority prior to the commencement of the Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002, but are required to pay a bond that will be lodged with the Residential Tenancies Authority following the commencement of that Act.
• you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or have a temporary protection visa;
• you meet the current income limits (17Kb);
• you do not own, or part-own:
  • a residential property;
  • a caravan, mobile home or live-aboard boat, any of which are permanently connected to normal household utilities;
• you meet the current cash and savings limit - combined for all household occupants not including dependents ($2,500);
• you do not have any outstanding debts with the Department of Housing or the Queensland Housing Commission;
• you choose a property where the rent does not exceed 60% of the total household gross weekly income; and
  EXCEPTION: This criteria does not apply when the tenancy is under the Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002 and the weekly rent includes accommodation, food service, personal care and other services.
• you have not previously received a Rental Grant.

AND you meet at least one of the following conditions:

• you have spent more than 28 continuous days in a department approved centre (e.g. emergency housing, a women's shelter) or in accommodation arranged by an approved centre and are applying for assistance within 14 days of leaving an approved centre;
• you are a discharged prisoner who has served at least 12 months in a correctional facility and are applying for assistance within three months of your release;
• you have been discharged from a mental health facility and have been a resident of the facility for at least 12 months and are applying for assistance within three months of your release;
• you are currently subjected to domestic violence and have appropriate supporting documentation; or
• you are exiting a community-based rent scheme to move into private rental accommodation.

For applicants under the age of 18, please contact the nearest Department of Housing office for more information.

How do I apply for a Rental Grant?

To apply for a Rental Grant, you will need to complete the following forms:

• Private Rental Assistance Household Application Form (74Kb).
• Private Rental Assistance Individual Details Form (68Kb). Each applicant must complete his/her own Private Rental Assistance Individual Details form.

You will also need to provide the department with verification of your income. Please complete the relevant forms for each applicant.

• Employer's Declaration (52Kb).

For incomes other than Centrelink/Veterans' Affairs payments and/or wages, the following evidence of income is acceptable:

• Work Cover payment advice letter or payment slips;
• written statement from a superannuation company;
• a letter from the Child Support Agency outlining child maintenance payments;
• a letter from a registered accountant stating the applicant/s income details; or
• last year's Tax Assessment Notice from the Australian Taxation Office for self employed applicants.

What do I need to supply with my application?

You will need to supply:

• Private Rental Assistance Individual Details form for each applicant;
• proof of income for all applicants;
• at least two forms of identification for each applicant (appropriate forms of identification are listed at section E on the Private Rental Assistance Household Application form); and
• documentary evidence that you have been in either an approved centre, or a correctional facility, or a mental health facility, or you are subjected to domestic violence.

When you have completed the Private Rental Assistance Household Application and Private Rental Assistance Individual Details forms and have all the required documentation, please telephone your local Department of Housing office to make an appointment for an interview to have your application processed. All proposed household members other than dependent children must attend the interview.

Do I need to go to the Department of Housing office personally?

No. You can mail or fax your application to a Department of Housing office if you wish. In these cases, a Justice of the Peace/Commissioner for Declaration is required to witness your application.

How will I know if my Rental Grant has been approved?

You will be informed in writing if your application for a Rental Grant has been approved.

A Confirmation of Tenancy form will be issued with your approval documents. This form is to be completed by your lessor/agent or service provider/manager and returned to the Department of Housing office.

How is the Rental Grant paid?

When the department receives the Confirmation of Tenancy form from your lessor/agent or service provider/manager, a cheque will be posted to you for two weeks rent. This cheque will be made payable to your lessor/agent or service provider/manager. It is your responsibility to forward the Rental Grant cheque to your lessor/agent or service provider/manager.

Each request for a Rental Grant is handled case by case, if you are subjected to domestic violence, please contact your local Department of Housing office for assistance. See the emergency housing page on this site for other information.

More information

For a printable version of the above information, view the Rental Grant fact sheet (113Kb).

For more information, see Bond Loans, frequently asked questions for existing Bond Loan clients or information about Bond Loans for lessors/agents or service providers/managers.

Or view the map for your local Department of Housing office’s contact details.

Last updated 17 July 2006