Assistance available
Private rental assistance is available to eligible applicants to help you:
- set up or maintain a tenancy in the private sector
- pay urgent housing related costs like rent arrears
- move from public housing to private rental accommodation.
Find out if you're eligible for help
Get assessed for support available to help with your situation when you apply for housing assistance.
You may be eligible for financial support to help rent a home in the private rental market until you can get social housing. Find out about the private rental subsidy.
Rent Choice
Rent Choice is a private rental subsidy that helps you pay the rent for up to 3 years.
It supports access to safe and affordable housing for eligible people who can show that they're able to sustain a tenancy in the private rental market.
| Assistance available | How it works |
|---|---|
| Rent Choice Assist | A private rental subsidy to help people in NSW recovering from a financial setback to set up or maintain a private rental home. Available in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas and in Sydney's Western, South West, Inner West and South East districts. |
| Rent Choice Start Safely | If domestic or family violence has made your living situation unsafe you can apply for help to find stable housing in the private rental market. |
| Rent Choice Youth | If you're aged 16 to 24 and need a safe and stable place to live you can apply for short to medium-term private rental assistance for young people. |
| Rent Choice Transition | Social housing tenants in select areas of NSW who are moving to a private rental can apply for short- to medium-term private rental support. |
| Rent Choice Veterans | Former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members who need a safe and stable place to live can apply for short- to medium-term rental assistance. |
Help when you're moving
Support that's available to eligible applicants when you're moving into the private rental market.
| Assistance available | How it works |
|---|---|
| Statement of Satisfactory Tenancy | Can be used as a reference for rental applications. You can ask for it if you are or have been a public housing tenant. It may help a landlord or real estate agent decide if you will be a suitable tenant for a property. |
| Rentstart Bond Loan | An interest-free loan to help pay your rental bond if you're eligible. |
| Private rental brokerage service | Helps you and your support agency set up a tenancy in the private rental market if you have complex needs. |
| Rentstart Move | A loan to help you with moving costs if you're leaving public housing. |
Related information
Last updated: 15 August 2025