Home » Get Help » Rental Support

Rental Support

Launch Housing’s Private Rental programs provide people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness with practical assistance to establish and maintain private rental tenancies. This includes information, advice, advocacy and in some cases financial assistance. 

Financial assistance can be offered to eligible renters to meet the cost of rent in advance or rent arrears. Private Rental Workers provide renters with information, advocacy and support as well as details and/or referral to other specialist services within Launch Housing or external agencies where requested or required. 

 

Rental Arrears

A one off-payment may be available to eligible renters who have fallen behind in rent and are living in private rental accommodation. You can use the form below to apply. 

For assistance with setting up a repayment plan with your agent/landlord, please go to Dear Landlord. If you need assistance to complete this, please consider our tenancy focused case management support. 

If you have a Notice to Vacate, please be aware that you do not need to leave your property on the date listed on the notice. Please look at this video to understand the process better Dear Landlord - A free legal self-help tool for Victorian renters.

Rent in Advance

May be available to people on low incomes who require financial assistance with the first month’s rent in advance. This only applies to individuals/families who meet our program eligibility requirements. You can use the form below to apply.

Access Private Rental Assistance

To be eligible for Launch Housing’s private rental supports you must reside in one of the following Local Government Areas: 

  • Cities of Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia Shire 
  • Cities of Port Philip, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula 
  • City of Melbourne (CBD, Southbank and East Melbourne only), Yarra, Darebin, Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea 

If you are outside these areas please got to private rental assistance program providers to identify the local service provider. 

To apply for assistance with your Private Rental please complete the application form below and our team will get in touch with you. 

The team will prioritise Rent in Advance requests and will contact applicants within 24 hours after they submit our application form. 

For all Rental Arrears requests we will contact you within 5-7 business days. If you haven’t heard from us within 5-7 business days, please call our team on 03 9556 5775. 

If you are unable to complete the form, contact the Private Rental Team on 03 9556 5775. 

The Launch Housing application form is hosted on a secure, encrypted platform Jotform. 

Please note: all eligibility information provided will be verified with the source.

Tenancy Focused Case Management Support

We offer a short term (up-to 13 weeks) voluntary tenancy focused support program for tenants residing in private rental properties who find they may be struggling to maintain their housing. 

We assist with practical support and guidance to maintain a current tenancy by providing: 

  • Assistance to encourage ongoing positive communication pathways between renter and their rental provider. 
  • Negotiating rent arrears repayment plans to avoid possible Notice to Vacate and further action by the rental provider. 
  • Advocate in VCAT hearings where possible. 
  • Assisting with linkage and referral to relevant support needs including; employment services, financial counselling, specialised support services and professional legal advice and representation when required. 
  • Provide vital education in regard to maintaining a positive rental history for current and future properties. 

Tenancy Focused Case Management is unique and beneficial for those that may have entered a private rental tenancy for the first time or, have experienced issues which have become barriers for future rental opportunities. The team support renters to maintain their focus on prioritising their rent as a primary living expense. The program is focused on empowering and educating renters to be confident in their current and future tenancies. 

Support is provided on an outreach response, office-based meetings or remotely over the telephone dependent on the renters’ personal circumstances. 

The team work cooperatively with other specialist supports involved with the renter(s) and maintain their focus on issues impacting on sustaining housing. 

Are you a client in need of rental assistance?

Tenancy Plus

Launch Housing Tenancy Plus provides support to renters moving into or currently residing in social housing in the northern and southern metro regions of Melbourne.  

It supports renters to establish themselves into new tenancies and to prevent evictions from social housing. Tenancy Plus case managers provide housing focused support and can connect people to longer-term specialist support services if required. 

Case managers work from an assertive outreach model and can meet people at their homes or in the community. Renters and residents can self-refer to Tenancy Plus. DFFH Housing, community housing providers and other services can also refer to Tenancy Plus.  

Launch Housing’s Tenancy Plus programs are delivered from our Collingwood and St Kilda offices. To find out more, contact a Tenancy Plus worker on 94660100 (Collingwood) or 8598 1188 (St Kilda). 

Launch Housing is a place where people of diverse backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations are welcomed and supported.
© 2025
 Launch Housing
Created with Heartburst