Rental application preparation

Applicant playbook

Applying for a rental on a pension

Show what you receive, where it comes from and the payment period. Keep pension income, retirement-account withdrawals and savings separate.

Market: AU
Jurisdiction: Australia
Updated: 2026-10-11

Short answer

List each recurring retirement income source with the amount and frequency shown on its current record. Explain any other funding separately, then ask the agent which supporting records they need. A pension summary organises your position; it does not establish eligibility or guarantee approval.

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Practical example

Filled example: two sources, two payment cycles

Fictional example only. Dianne lists a pension payment of A$820 per fortnight, as shown on a statement dated 6 October 2026. She lists a retirement-account payment of A$600 per month on a separate statement dated 1 October. These are invented amounts, not pension rates, affordability benchmarks or approval criteria.

Her summary keeps both frequencies visible. A separate A$9,400 savings balance is labelled "balance on 8 October", not monthly income. Where a statement leaves the deduction basis unclear, her note says "basis not stated; clarification requested". She does not add the balance to either recurring payment.

Working checklist

Build a short pension evidence list

Start with the recipient's request, then identify which available record answers it. You do not need to reproduce your whole financial history in the introduction.

Income source and provider name.
Amount, payment frequency and basis exactly as recorded.
Record date and the period it covers.
Separate note for savings or account withdrawals.
Specific question for any requested record you cannot provide.

Action plan

A short introduction you can adapt

Fictional message: "Hello, I am applying for 18 Sample Street. My current retirement funding includes a fortnightly pension and a separate monthly retirement-account payment. I have listed each source and its supporting record below. Please confirm which periods and documents you need for this application. Kind regards, Dianne."

Replace the example with your own sources and the actual property. Leave out a source you do not receive. If the amount may change, describe the current record and any confirmed change without promising future payments.

Useful context

Start with the source, not one combined total

A retirement profile may contain several different kinds of money. A pension payment is an income source. A withdrawal from a retirement account has its own terms and frequency. A savings balance is a snapshot. Name them separately so the application does not imply that the same money arrives every pay period.

Use the latest record you actually hold. If a document does not show whether an amount is before or after deductions, label the basis as not stated rather than choosing one. You can ask the provider for clarification without inventing a figure.

Keep in view

Check the summary before sharing it

Provide information relevant to the recipient's application process and handle identity or financial material carefully.

Confirm the recipient, property and requested period before attaching a financial record. Ask about a secure delivery method if the request is unclear. The agent or landlord decides how to assess the application; this example sets no income rule.

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Questions

Common questions

Clear answers for the decisions people usually pause on.

Should I put my savings in the same line as my pension?

Keep them separate. Describe a savings balance with its statement date and recurring pension income with its actual payment cycle. A balance is not a recurring payment.

What if my pension statement does not cover the period requested?

Tell the recipient which record you hold and ask what period or alternative they need. Do not relabel an older statement as current.

Your next step

Put your application documents in one clear pack