A rental bond is a security deposit paid at the start of the tenancy.

If the property manager/owner takes a bond, they must give the tenant/resident a receipt and lodge it with the RTA within 10 days. It is an offence not to do so.

How much bond can be taken?

The maximum bond allowed to be taken is equivalent to:

• 4 weeks rent for general tenancies and rooming accommodation
• 2 weeks rent for moveable dwellings
• 3 weeks rent for moveable dwellings if electricity is provided.

The maximum amounts stated in the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the Act) apply to all bonds, no matter what they are called (e.g. pet bond) or how many bonds are taken.

It is an offence to take more than the maximum amount for a bond.

There are different rules where accommodation is provided by an employer. Check with the RTA for more information.

Lodging your bond with the RTA

A rental bond can be lodged online via RTA Web Services or by post using a Bond lodgement (Form 2). If you have a bond loan, you can only lodge your bond via post.

When lodging a bond, you’ll need to provide the date of the last rent increase for the property, unless the property is being rented for the first time or the property manager/owner is an exempt lessor. For more information, see rent increases.

Once your bond payment has cleared, an Acknowledgement of rental bond is sent to the bond contributors and property manager/owner. If you have agreed to receive RTA notices by email, the Acknowledgement of rental bond is sent via email. Otherwise, the acknowledgement will be sent via post.

If you need urgent help to lodge a bond, please contact us.

Bond increases

During a tenancy, the bond may be increased if it has been at least 11 months since the last bond increase or the start of the tenancy. Bond increases are often due to a rent increase. When the bond is to be increased, the property manager/owner must issue a written notice which states the day by which the increase must be made. The increase must not take the total bond above the maximum amount allowed. 

The tenant/resident must pay the increase in bond by the date stated on the notice, which must be at least one month after the tenant received the notice.

The property manager/owner must lodge the extra bond money with the RTA within 10 days of receiving it via RTA Web Services or by post using a Bond lodgement (Form 2). The existing bond number should be quoted on the form so that the additional payment can be added to the current bond.

Paying a bond in instalments

A bond can be paid in instalments if a property manager/owner and tenant/resident agree. The number and amount of the instalments should be agreed by both parties and recorded in writing, such as by including the details in the tenancy agreement’s special terms. 

How and when the instalments should be lodged with the RTA depends on the agreement type.