COVID-19 SA: Business, Individuals – Residential Rental Grant Scheme

This program aims to support residential landlords who reduce the rent of a tenant experiencing rental hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant may be paid where:
- A residential tenant can demonstrate they have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, has less than $5,000 in savings and is paying more than 30% of their current income in rent (a tenant is defined as being in rental hardship if this criteria is met).
- The landlord provides rent relief to the tenant(s) within the period from 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021 (inclusive).
- A revised rental agreement (or other evidence to substantiate the provision of reduced rent) needs to be provided as part of the application process.

Residential landlords are eligible for a second round grant irrespective of whether they received a rental grant in the first round (where appropriate relief has been provided).

Grants of up to $1,000 are available. The amount of the rental grant will be calculated on the revised agreement and will be paid to the landlord to offset the provision of reduced rent to the affected tenant.

If the landlord has provided rent relief to their tenant(s) in rental hardship of less than $1,000, a grant equal to the amount of rent relief may be provided.

Eligible applicants include tenants who meet the eligibility criteria and can demonstrate that they have received or will receive rent relief within the period from 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021 can apply.

Landlords may also now apply together with their tenants, subject to their tenant’s eligibility and consent to submit personal information and supporting evidence to demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria.  Tenants must also consent to the Government verifying this evidence.

A tenant will be considered to be significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic where they can demonstrate that post 30 March 2020 one of the following occurred:
- Loss of employment.
- Reduction in hours of 20% or more.
- Reduction in wages of 20% or more.
- Operated as a sole trader business which was either suspended or experienced a reduction in turnover of 20% or more.

Eligibility for a JobKeeper or JobSeeker payment is not required.

Please refer to the FAQs for the complete eligibility requirements.