In almost all of Australia, the maximum bond is 4 weeks of rent. Victoria sets it at one month, and there are exceptions if the rent is high. In seven of the eight states and territories the money goes to a public body. In the Northern Territory the landlord holds it in an account for that purpose.
Maximum and deadline, by state
| State | Maximum | Deadline to lodge it | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 4 weeks | Unconfirmed | NSW Fair Trading |
| Victoria | 1 month. No cap if the rent is over A$900 a week | 14 days, or 10 business days according to Tenants Victoria | RTBA |
| Queensland | 4 weeks | 10 days | RTA |
| Western Australia | 4 weeks. No cap if over A$1,200 | 14 days | Bonds Administration |
| South Australia | 4 weeks up to A$800. 6 weeks if over that figure | 2 weeks. Registered agent, 4 | CBS |
| Tasmania | 4 weeks | Agent, 3 business days | Rental Deposit Authority |
| Australian Capital Territory | 4 weeks | 2 weeks. Agent, 4 | ACT Revenue Office |
| Northern Territory | 4 weeks | There is no central body | Landlord's account |
Living as a boarder or lodger, or in a rooming house, has other rules. In Western Australia, Bonds Administration does not hold a boarder's bond. In South Australia, a rooming house asks for up to 2 weeks. The difference is in how to find a shared room.
How much rent can they ask for in advance?
- New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory: 2 weeks.
- Victoria: one month, or 14 days if you pay weekly.
- Queensland: one month on a fixed-term contract and 2 weeks on a periodic or rooming contract.
- Northern Territory: one payment period.
- Tasmania: unconfirmed.
How do you get it back?
| State | How and how long it takes | If there is a disagreement |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | In Rental Bonds Online. The landlord has up to 14 days to accept, and it is paid within 2 business days | NCAT tribunal |
| Victoria | Any tenant starts it when the contract ends. The others have 14 days to object. With agreement, it is usually paid in 1 business day | RDRV, free, and VCAT tribunal |
| Queensland | Online or with form 4. With agreement, the same day and up to 3 more business days | 14 days to respond, and RTA dispute resolution |
| Western Australia | With a paper form, about 3 weeks | The Commissioner decides: 11 to 12 weeks on average |
| South Australia | In Residential Bonds Online, with the agreement of everyone | CBS and SACAT tribunal |
| Tasmania | Online with mybond | 10 days to agree, and then the Commissioner decides |
| Australian Capital Territory | The landlord hands over the signed form within 3 business days, or 10 if they claim something | ACAT tribunal |
| Northern Territory | The landlord returns it or gives notice within 7 business days of you leaving the property | NTCAT tribunal |
Before leaving Australia: Queensland only pays into Australian bank accounts. South Australia warns that a foreign bank may charge a fee. If you are going to close your account, claim first. In New South Wales you need a phone that receives SMS to enter the system, and in Victoria, email and phone to verify your identity.
If you share: in Victoria, the body does not record how much each person put in, so keep your own record. In New South Wales, a head tenant claims for everyone and splits the money.
Other rights worth knowing
- Condition report: it is what prevents many disputes. It is returned signed within 7 days in New South Wales and within 5 business days in Victoria. New South Wales asks for dated photos.
- Receipt: in South Australia, the landlord gives it within 48 hours, unless paid by bank. Queensland requires it for bond and deposits.
- Banned charges: Victoria bans charging for applying or for paying the rent from October 2026. Queensland does not allow an application fee. In New South Wales they cannot charge for checking your background.
- Bidding: Queensland and Victoria do not allow paying more than the advertised rent.
- Pets: Western Australia allows an extra bond of up to A$350. Victoria keeps the cap of one month.
- Bond substitutes: they are illegal in Western Australia.
Official websites and free help
| State | Official website | Phone or help |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Fair Trading | Tenants' Advice, 1800 251 101 |
| Victoria | Consumer Affairs | 1300 55 81 81. Tenants Victoria, (03) 9416 2577 |
| Queensland | RTA | 1300 366 311 |
| Western Australia | Consumer Protection | 1300 30 40 54. Circle Green, (08) 6148 3636 |
| South Australia | CBS and SA.GOV.AU | 131 882, option 2 |
| Tasmania | CBOS | Tenants' Union, 1300 652 641 |
| Australian Capital Territory | ACT Government | Tenants ACT. Legal Aid ACT, 1300 402 512 |
| Northern Territory | NT Government | Darwin Community Legal Service, 08 8982 1111 |
We could not check the official websites of Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. That information comes from tenants' organisations and legal centres and, in the Northern Territory, also from the law. It is worth confirming it on the official website, especially for Tasmania, whose fact sheet reflects the law as of January 2025.
This guide gives general information, not legal advice. If it is your first home, also see how much it costs to rent and how to spot a scam.
Sources
All opened on 5 November 2026.
- Rental Bonds Online for tenants, NSW (official)
- Getting your bond back, NSW (official)
- Paying rent in advance, NSW (official)
- Condition reports, NSW (official)
- Starting a tenancy, Tenants' Union NSW (third party, August 2025)
- Bond amounts, Consumer Affairs Victoria (official)
- Lodging with the RTBA, Consumer Affairs Victoria (official)
- Bond claims, Consumer Affairs Victoria (official)
- Rent in advance, Consumer Affairs Victoria (official, 14 October 2026)
- Condition reports, Consumer Affairs Victoria (official)
- Legal changes, Consumer Affairs Victoria (official, 14 October 2026)
- Resolving disputes, Consumer Affairs Victoria (official)
- Bonds, Tenants Victoria (third party, October 2026)
- Rental bond, Queensland RTA (official)
- Bond refunds, Queensland RTA (official)
- Rent payments, Queensland RTA (official)
- Choosing a rental, Queensland RTA (official)
- Rental bonds, Consumer Protection WA (official)
- Lodging a bond, Consumer Protection WA (official)
- Bond timeframes, Consumer Protection WA (official)
- Releasing a bond, Consumer Protection WA (official)
- Boarders and lodgers, Consumer Protection WA (official)
- Tenancy support, Consumer Protection WA (official)
- Maximum bond, SA.GOV.AU (official, November 2023)
- Rent and bond, SA.GOV.AU (official, August 2025)
- Bond refunds, SA.GOV.AU (official)
- Disputes, SA.GOV.AU (official)
- Rooming houses, SA.GOV.AU (official, July 2024)
- Bond, Tenants' Union of Tasmania (third party, law as of January 2025)
- Rental bonds, Tenants ACT (third party, revised on 20 October 2026)
- Residential Tenancies Act 1999, Northern Territory (official, in force as of 1 August 2025; sections 29 and 39)
- Bond Disputes, Darwin Community Legal Service (third party, no year)