As Australians' jobs vanish thanks to coronavirus, many are asking themselves: what happens if I can't pay my rent?

Key points: The "moratorium on evictions" was mentioned by the PM on Sunday

The "moratorium on evictions" was mentioned by the PM on Sunday Being proactive and negotiating if you can't pay rent is still the advice from residential tenant advocates

Being proactive and negotiating if you can't pay rent is still the advice from residential tenant advocates More detail is expected from this Friday's National Cabinet meeting

Or could I face eviction for another reason?

And it's not just residential tenants looking for some relief. Often it's their employers too, as commercial businesses shut up shop across the country.

So the Prime Minister's mention on Sunday night of a "moratorium on evictions" would have been a bright spot for a lot of people — but what does that mean?

So what do we know right now?

First up, this is what Scott Morrison said on the weekend:

"States and territories will be moving to put a moratorium on evictions of persons as a result of financial distress if they are unable to meet their commitments. And so there will be a moratorium on evictions for the next six months under those rental arrangements."

There was a bit more detail for businesses, with a set of principles drawn up by the National Cabinet (that cabinet includes premiers and the territories' chief ministers).

The states will use these principles to figure out how any government intervention will work.

They include:

Temporary moratoriums on evictions if rent isn't paid for on commercial tenancies hit by "severe rental distress" due to coronavirus

Temporary moratoriums on evictions if rent isn't paid for on commercial tenancies hit by "severe rental distress" due to coronavirus Reducing or waiving rental payments for a set time for affected tenants

Reducing or waiving rental payments for a set time for affected tenants Tenants could ask to end leases or seek out mediation on grounds of "financial distress"

Tenants could ask to end leases or seek out mediation on grounds of "financial distress" Landlords and tenants not badly impacted by coronavirus to honour their rental agreements

But at the same time, the National Cabinet says there's "more to do, including for residential tenancies".

Residential tenants hit by the economic cost of coronavirus are looking for some relief. ( Pexels: Kat Jayne )

Tenants' Union of New South Wales spokesman Leo Patterson Ross says those principles around businesses will hopefully flow through to residential tenants, but there's still a lot of unknowns.

"The PM's message is very clear. We do think the commercial principles, at least the fundamentals, will get translated into residential tenancies," he said.

"Tenants and landlords have more useful things they can spend their money on than debt."

Then what happened?

On Monday, the PM said work was still being done on what it all means for residential tenants.

"That continues to be a matter that's a subject of work within the National Cabinet right now," Mr Morrison said.

"There is a moratorium on evictions that would apply and be put in place by the states and territories to both commercial and residential leases.

"The follow-on effects of that, in terms of guarantees around rents and things of that nature for landlords and vice versa, is a matter that's still being worked through."

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What is a moratorium?

We'll back up a moment to explain this.

It's means a temporary hold on something. Often that's a legal obligation, like following a contract and paying your rent.

So that means all evictions have been banned now, right?

As of today, we don't know exactly.

From what the PM has said, it looks like the Federal Government and the National Cabinet want a six-month halt on evictions for those under financial distress because of coronavirus.

But residential tenancies come under state and territory government rules — and there are several grounds for ending a tenancy. And the exact laws on this vary depending on where you live.

For example, in Victoria landlords ending tenancies must give a specific reason, or can provide no reason in the case of a 120-day notice.

Other reasons for eviction with a short 14-day notice period include having other tenants without consent or a tenant not paying bond.

Some states have already decided to go it alone; Tasmania moved to stop evictions due to coronavirus last week.

The changes there don't mean renters can stop paying, even if they lose income, but it does mean they won't be kicked out of their home.

The state's Premier Peter Gutwein says the laws will "ensure tenants have the incentive to continue to pay rent during the emergency period, where they are able to do so".

The laws, if passed by Parliament, would give "no effect" to rent arrears or eviction notices for an initial emergency period of 120 days due to the coronavirus crisis, with an extension of 90 days in exceptional circumstances.

In New South Wales, Premier Gladys Berejiklian indicated she would roll out new rules there, banning landlords from evicting tenants who fail to pay their rent because of COVID-19 job losses.

Tenants Queensland CEO Penny Carr says while there's probably a moral argument after the PM's announcement, a moratorium isn't legally binding until the states and territories have changed the laws.

"Until there's some sort of legislative or regulatory boundaries on it, it's hard to enforce," she says.

"From our perspective, this is a public health crisis. We're trying to protect people from unnecessary movement so we're trying to protect people from all evictions, not just evictions on the basis of rent arrears.

"In every state and territory, you can be evicted without grounds."

So what should I do now?

The message is still to be proactive and negotiate while details are being sorted out.

If you're facing that task with your landlord now because you can't pay your rent, there are a few things tenant advocates say to keep in mind.

Keep your landlord or rental agent in the loop

Keep your landlord or rental agent in the loop Be transparent about your situation

Be transparent about your situation Get anything you agree on in writing

Get anything you agree on in writing Be reasonable about what you're asking

Be reasonable about what you're asking Get some independent advice

Ms Carr says they've seen both some really good and really poor behaviour, and it's important to try and get some advice.

"Just this morning I saw an email from an agent that got sent out to their whole rent roll saying before we consider hardship arrangements, you'll need to have gone down to Centrelink and applied for payments, and to have accessed your super," she said.

"If people are struggling right now, the best thing is to get advice from a tenant advocate."

When will we know more?

There's probably more coming out of this Friday's National Cabinet meeting.

Commercial and residential tenancies will be on the agenda again, according to the PM's office, with treasurers from around the country to discuss the issue.

And the big question on tenants repaying any "rent break" they might get from coronavirus is still to be answered.