Behind in rent? Draft a payment plan using Dear Landlord

Your personal information

Justice Connect will collect some personal information from you to generate your document. We will store this information securely.

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To begin drafting your letter, enter a few details about you and your situation.

Your contact details

These will be used in the letter

Before you begin have the details of your rental provider or property manager handy - including their full name and email address

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Todays Date

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Hidden - Previously behind in rent?

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Hidden - Yes Is there an Upcoming VCAT hearing

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Hidden - No Is there is Upcoming VCAT hearing

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Hidden - No upcoming VCAT hearing & No NTV

Your details

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Phone*

Your address

This is the address you are requesting a payment plan for

Street Address*

Suburb*

State*

Postcode*

Do you have co-tenants on the lease?*

Yes

No

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Hidden - Behalf of just you

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Hidden - Behalf of co-tenants

Co-tenant Names*

Use the buttons to add/remove your co-tenants

A co-tenant is anyone else listed on your rental agreement

Consent to be contacted for feedback

I’m happy to be contacted by Justice Connect about feedback on Dear Landlord

Your rental provider or agent's details

This will be used in the letter

Does your rental provider use an agent to manage the property?*

Yes

No

Rental provider's full name*

Rental provider's email*

Name of the real estate agency*

Your property manager's email*

If you're not sure, check any emails or letters received from your rental provider or real estate agent. If it's a real estate agency, you can search the company name on the internet to find their contact details

Your circumstances

Great. Now let's include more about your situation and why you're behind in rent. This will be included in the letter and help your rental provider understand your situation.

Select why you are behind in rent*

Select as many as apply

I have not been paid by my employer

I have been unemployed

I am employed, but working reduced hours

I have been struggling with ill health

I had an unforeseen expense which I had to pay

I had a Covid-19 rent deferral agreement which has now ended

I have experienced family violence

I would prefer not to disclose

Other

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Other Reason

Any other reason you want to enter

If your circumstances are not listed, use the ‘other’ option. You can also use the 'other' option to tell the rental provider more about your situation if you want.

Your rent, arrears & income

The next few questions are optional, but will help you work out how much to pay back.

How much do you pay in rent?

If you are writing this letter on behalf of your co-tenants, enter your household's total rent.

How often?

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

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Hidden - Rent Filled out?

Yes

How much are you behind?

How much $

Can you tell us how much income you earn?

If you don't receive the same income amount each month, enter an estimated average. If you are writing this letter on behalf of your household, enter your household's average income

How often?

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

Yearly

Upfront payment

You are behind in rent by {How much are you behind?:18}

You can nominate to offer as a one-off upfront payment if you have some money available immediately. This is completely optional.

Do you want to make an upfront payment?*

Yes

No

How much do you want to pay upfront?*

When will you pay this amount?*

There is no set limit to how much you can offer as an one-off upfront payment. It can be as little as you can afford.

Your Payment Plan

Offering a manageable payment plan is an important step to showing your willingness to address the arrears.

How much you want to pay*

How often do you want to pay?

Weekly

Fortnightly

Monthly

When will you start paying this amount?*

Payment plan results

Completion time

- weeks

Completion date

You are paying of your total income in rent and your payment plan

You can trial different amounts to see how much you'll pay back and how long it will take.
Don’t forget to take into account your other bills, groceries, travel costs and medications you might need.

The 30% rule Did you know that if you are paying more than 30% of your income on rent, you are considered to be in 'rental stress'? If you are struggling with other debts or bills, talk to a financial counsellor. Call 1800 007 007 to speak to a financial Counsellor or find one in your local area.

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summary-end-date

Great! You’re Almost Done

Let’s check that you’re happy with the details before you finish.

Summary of details

{First Name:2} {Last Name:3}
{Phone:71}
{Email:38}
{Street Address:5}
{Suburb:88} {State:90} {Postcode:89}

You are struggling to pay rent because: {Select why you are behind in rent:11}

{Other Reason:80} {Any other reason you want to enter:13}

You are requesting to pay back {How much you want to pay:29} per week starting from {When will you start paying this amount?:48}{summary-end-date:82}.

You are offering a one-off upfront payment of {How much do you want to pay upfront?:20}, paid on {When will you pay this amount?:45}.

You are requesting this payment plan on behalf of {Hidden - Behalf of just you:78}{Hidden - Behalf of co-tenants:79}.

{Question - Co-tenants names:100:}

Great! You’re Almost Done

Let’s check that you’re happy with the details before you finish.

Summary of details

{First Name:2} {Last Name:3}
{Phone:71}
{Email:38}
{Street Address:5}
{Suburb:88} {State:90} {Postcode:89}

You are struggling to pay rent because: {Select why you are behind in rent:11}

{Other Reason:80} {Any other reason you want to enter:13}

You are requesting to pay back {How much you want to pay:29} per week starting from {When will you start paying this amount?:48}{summary-end-date:82}.

You are not offering a one-off upfront payment.

You are requesting this payment plan on behalf of {Hidden - Behalf of just you:78}{Hidden - Behalf of co-tenants:79}.

{Question - Co-tenants names:100:}

Generating the letter

You’ll be able to read and edit the letter before you send it

You will also get some information on what happens after you send your letter to your rental provider or real estate agency.