Former social housing tenants who may not be eligible for the NSW Housing Register due to their classification can still access Rentstart products if they meet the other eligibility criteria. For detailed information about each Rentstart product's requirements, please visit the Eligibility criteria for Rentstart assistance products page.
In certain situations, there may be options to assist clients who do not meet the standard criteria. More information can be found in the Clients that may require special consideration section.
Assistance will not be offered for housing that is clearly beyond the applicant's financial ability. Typically, the rent for the property should not exceed 50% of the household's total gross weekly income, unless the client can show they can:
Meet reasonable living expenses
Maintain Bond Loan payments to Homes NSW, if applying for Rentstart Bond Loan or Rentstart Move assistance
Sustain the tenancy for at least 12 months.
When assessing rental affordability, all forms of income are considered, including maintenance payments, Family Tax Benefits Parts A and B, and other allowances not included in the social housing income eligibility assessment.
For example, if a single person receives a Jobseeker Payment of $218.55 per week and Commonwealth Rent Assistance of $53.60 per week, the assessment of affordable rent would be as follows:
$218.55 x 50% = $109.28
$53.60 x 100% = $53.60
Total affordable rent = $162.88.
If a client is applying for a Rentstart Bond Loan to start a Private Rental Subsidy tenancy, their affordability is assessed based on the percentage of income spent on rent after applying the Private Rental Subsidy.
If a client is granted approval for rent above the Private Rental Subsidy benchmark, a check will confirm that the rent does not exceed 50% of the household’s total gross weekly income before a Rentstart Bond Loan is offered. For more information about Private Rental Subsidy benchmarks, please visit the Private Rental Subsidy page.
Shared Households
When assessing eligibility for Rentstart assistance, the income of all household members aged 18 and older is considered. However, applications from individual household members will be accepted if:
The household as a whole is not eligible for Rentstart assistance
The applicant is not part of a larger family unit living in the property.
If an individual is assessed as eligible, they will receive assistance that reflects their share of the household costs. For instance, if someone pays 50% of the rent, their assistance will cover up to 50% of the rental bond or advance rent needed to secure a tenancy.
Supporting documents will help determine if individuals on an application are part of a family unit or living independently. Examples of family units include:
Spouses or partners
Couples
Parents with children
Individuals receiving carer payments for caring for someone in the household.
When issuing a Rentstart Bond Loan, the names of all household members listed on the Residential Tenancy Agreement will be included on the Rental Bond Lodgement form filed with the Rental Bond Board.
Only one Bond Loan can be provided for each household. Therefore, in cases of shared tenancies, if one household member secures a Bond Loan for their part of the bond, other members cannot later apply for a Rentstart Bond Loan for their portion.
Clients that May Require Special Consideration
Clients with disabilities and those approved for a Private Rental Subsidy who apply for Rentstart Bond Loan or Tenancy Assistance may be given special consideration. These clients might have more savings than allowed but can still qualify for assistance if they demonstrate that their savings are necessary to:
Cover medical bills
Pay for care services
Purchase essential medical supplies
Meet other important costs.
The expenses related to their disability, supported by paperwork from health or community professionals, will be factored into the eligibility review for Rentstart.
Rent Choice clients applying for Rentstart Bond Loan may also receive special consideration. Those who exceed the social housing income limits but remain within moderate income levels can qualify for a Rentstart Bond Loan, provided they meet existing Rentstart criteria to receive Advance Rent.
Circumstances Where Rentstart Assistance Will Not Be Provided
Rentstart assistance will not be granted to clients who:
Are moving into a property they are purchasing or already own
Are moving into or between public housing managed by Homes NSW
Are moving into a property funded by Specialist Homelessness Services
Have made a false declaration on a Rentstart application (this will exclude them from assistance for two years).
Additionally, Rentstart Bond Loan assistance will not be offered to clients who:
Owe Homes NSW funds for two previous Rentstart Bond