Joint Submission: Rent Relief Fund

This joint submission calls on the ACT Government to continue the Rent Relief Fund as a vital measure in the 2025-26 ACT Budget. Developed in response to the ongoing rental affordability crisis, this submission emphasises the critical role the fund plays in supporting vulnerable private renters, reducing rental stress, and preventing homelessness. Key areas of focus include the fund’s impact on housing stability, its cost-effectiveness, and its role in connecting tenants to broader support services.

The recommendations advocate for sustained funding to ensure the Rent Relief Fund remains a lifeline for low-income households in one of Australia’s least affordable rental markets. Leveraging revenue from the short-term accommodation levy is proposed as a viable pathway to maintain this essential program, providing targeted financial relief and supporting housing security for vulnerable renters in the ACT.