Processing proof of rent for the Verification field on the Accommodation Details (AC) screen 108-18092631

This is when a customer provides a formal rental agreement document for their accommodation. It may be provided to support:

• a new claim for payment with sufficient accommodation details
• an accommodation update (for example, change of address reported in person)
• a Rent Certificate
• an online accommodation update by the customer, where the rent verification code was:
• UPL - RA Paying - Rent Verification to be uploaded, or
• RVL - Upload Rent Verification Required

A formal rental agreement is a legally binding written agreement. It is usually called a Residential Tenancy Agreement (lease), however the name may vary depending on the state.

If the customer provides a formal rental agreement as part of rent verification, it must contain:

• Name of tenant(s) - must include the customer (and/or their current partner) claiming RA
• Premises the agreement relates to - that is, the rental address
• Name and contact details of the landlord/managing agent
• Amount of the rent liability - this includes any relevant rebated rental details. Some agreements may have the market rent and a rebated rent amount on separate pages. The customer's rental liability is the rebated rental amount

A formal rental agreement provided for rent verification does not need to be signed by the:

• customer
• partner
• landlord/managing agent

This supports the changes to documents managed digitally allowing all parties to undertake everything in the transaction electronically.

The formal rental agreement is an acceptable form of verification if it is:

• for a fixed time, for example, 12 months, and:
• still within that period of time, or
• the fixed period has passed and the agreement has become a 'continuing' or 'month to month' agreement. The details of the continuing agreement will be in a clause in the agreement, or
• not for a fixed period

This is when a customer provides one of the following for their current accommodation:

• a signed Rent Certificate (SU523HD) (no other Rent Certificates are acceptable), or
• a signed Rent Declaration (SU336M), along with further documentary proof of rent paid if possible, such as:
• rent receipts
• bank deposit slips
• bank statements

Accept a SU336M when the customer is:

• a traveller who moves regularly, or
• unable to get their landlord's signature on the SU523HD, for example, the landlord:
• cannot be contacted
• will not sign the SU523HD

Electronic/digital signatures are acceptable for SU523HD and SU336M forms.

If an acceptable formal rental agreement has not been provided, the landlord or authorised representative declaration on the SU523HD must be signed.

The landlord or real estate agent must sign the SU523HD form when the customer is:

• a primary tenant (a person named on the lease), or
• the person who has entered into a verbal rental agreement with a landlord

The homeowner, primary tenant or the person who has entered into a verbal rental agreement with a landlord must sign the form when the customer:

• lives with them, and
• has a rental agreement (generally verbal) with them (that is, customer pays them board and/or lodging)

State government authorities or private legal firms (for example, trustees) who manage a customer's business with Services Australia cannot sign the SU523HD as the landlord or authorised representative.

A customer must provide specific verification documents if:

• they run a business from their home
• the formal rental agreement is in the business name, and
• they pay rent to the business for private use

Documents to verify rent must include all of the following:

• a copy of the formal rental agreement document(s)
• a copy of the business tax return or profit and loss statement, and
• either:
• a Rent Certificate (SU523HD) (no other Rent Certificates are acceptable) signed by a business partner as the landlord. This is as long as this person is not the customer or their partner, or
• a Rent Declaration (SU336M), as the customer (including their partner) cannot sign their own SU523HD

If the formal rental agreement is in the customer's name, confirmation of the amount claimed as a business expense is needed. This is to determine the amount of rent assessable for calculation of RA. Documents to verify rent must include:

• the business tax return, or
• a profit and loss statement

For details about QOLCheck tool step question options for the AC screen, search QOL tool in the A-Z of Rent Assistance terms and codes.

From 25 September 2020 onwards, the COVID-19 rent verification waiver ended. For more information see Determining proof of rent for the Verification field on the Accommodation Details (AC) screen.