Rent Choice Start Safely

Rent Choice Start Safely provides short to medium-term private rental assistance for people who do not have a stable and secure place to live due to domestic or family violence.

Rent Choice Start Safely supports people who have recently left, need to leave or at risk of returning to an unsafe relationship by:

• helping them find a safe and affordable place to rent
• paying a portion of their rent for up to 36 months, and
• referring them to support services for education and employment support to help them become financially independent.

Who is Rent Choice Start Safely for?

You may be eligible for Rent Choice Start Safely if you:

• are escaping or at risk of domestic or family violence*
• are homeless or at risk of being homeless
• are eligible for social housing
• can demonstrate that you will be able to afford the private market rent after the subsidy ends, and
• are willing to engage with support services, if needed.

* This includes clients leaving custody or residential rehabilitation centres who may still be at risk of domestic or family violence.

How can I access Rent Choice Start Safely?

Complete an online application for housing assistance at facs.nsw.gov.au or call the Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322. We will assess your application to see if Rent Choice Start Safely might be suitable for you.

Is there an income test?

To receive Rent Choice Start Safely, you must be eligible for social housing. One of the eligibility criteria for social housing is that your household must be within the social housing income eligibility. This is dependent on your household size, type and gross household income.

When we calculate your subsidy, we include the full amount of Commonwealth Rental Assistance as income, even if you haven’t applied for it or are not receiving it.

You must let your social housing provider know within 28 days if there are any changes to your circumstances, including changes in income. If your income increases during the subsidy period, your subsidy will be adjusted accordingly.

Is there an assets test?

You can receive the subsidy if you have assets but can’t access them right now because of circumstances beyond your control. For example, you might have an interest in the family home but the Family Court has ordered that the property cannot be sold as there are court proceedings.

What help will I receive?

A Rent Choice Start Safely subsidy is calculated according to your income. For the first 12 months, you pay 25% of your weekly household income plus 100% of any Commonwealth Rent Assistance you may be entitled to receive.

Once you have paid your share of the rent, we pay the rest directly to the landlord or real estate agent. This is called a subsidy. The amount you pay will gradually increase after 12 months, but we’ll chat to you about that closer to the time.

When your income increases, your share of the rent will be adjusted accordingly.

Rent Choice clients may also receive:

• Get Started : up to $850 for approved Rent Choice clients to help pay a holding deposit on a rental property, and for costs associated with searching for and securing private rental accommodation such as transport, clothing and haircuts and photocopying ID; and
• Brokerage: for Rent Choice clients once they sign a tenancy agreement, to help pay for goods and services to set up their new home such as furniture, moving costs and study costs.

Rent Choice Start Safely clients can also apply for other types of help, including:

• Tenancy Facilitation: help to search and apply for private rental properties.
• Private Rental Brokerage Service: help for eligible clients with complex needs to secure and sustain private rental accommodation.
• Bond Extra: a guarantee of up to $1,500 over the rental bond amount that may be paid to landlords or agents if there are rental arrears and/or property damage when a Residential Tenancy Agreement ends.
• Rentstart Bond Loan: an interest free loan to help you pay up to four weeks’ bond.
• Advance Rent: a grant to help pay for 1-2 weeks rent in advance at the start of your tenancy, provided in conjunction with Rentstart Bond Loan.

How will I know if a property is affordable?

The subsidy will only be approved for a private rental property that is considered affordable. A property is considered affordable if the rent is no more than 50% of your income plus any Commonwealth Rent Assistance you may be entitled to receive.

You might receive a bigger subsidy in certain areas where the rent is higher .

How long will I receive help for?

Initially, the subsidy will be paid for three months and can be paid for up to 36 months (maximum). Every three months we will review your need for the subsidy and see if you need any additional support.

Helpful contact:

If you need more information or support, contact your local housing office or call:

• Housing Contact Centre 1800422 322
• Domestic Violence Line ‍1800 656 463
• Link2home Homelessness ‍1800 152 152
• Link2home Veterans and Ex-Service 1800 326 898
• Child Protection Helpline ‍13 21 11

You can also visit facs.nsw.gov.au for more information.