What a rental bond is, and who holds it
A rental bond is a security deposit, not a fee. You pay it at the start of the tenancy, it is held against unpaid rent and damage, and what is left comes back at the end.
Who holds it varies by state. In Victoria the bond is lodged with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) and returned when the tenancy ends. In Queensland your property manager or owner must give you a receipt and lodge it with the RTA within 10 days; not doing so is an offence. The NSW page used here sets the bond cap but does not name the NSW holder, so ask NSW Fair Trading or your agent.
Bonds are also not universal. Consumer Affairs Victoria states bonds are not mandatory, but if your rental agreement requires one you must pay it, and if you don't the rental provider can give you a notice to vacate.
What you need up front
The caps are expressed in weeks of rent, so substitute your own rent rather than trusting a sample total.
- NSW: bond up to 4 weeks + rent in advance up to 2 weeks = up to 6 weeks of rent before you move in.
- Queensland: bond up to 4 weeks (general tenancies and rooming accommodation) + rent in advance up to 1 month on a fixed term agreement, so around 8 weeks of rent.
- Victoria: bond up to 1 month's rent. The official page reviewed gives no general rent-in-advance cap for standard tenancies, so ask the RTBA, Consumer Affairs Victoria or your property manager.
On top of that, NSW has an application-stage cost: a holding fee of up to one week's rent, which can only be requested after the landlord has approved your application, and which must go towards rent if you sign the lease. There is also a lease-registration fee with NSW Land Registry Services, but only for fixed terms of 3 or more years; keep the receipts. The sources here establish no general statewide application fee for any state, and other states structure up-front costs differently — check with the relevant authority or your property manager.
Two protections worth knowing: in NSW the landlord or agent must offer at least one rent-payment method you can use with no extra charge beyond usual bank or account fees, and in Queensland they cannot solicit, accept or invite you to pay more rent in advance than the permitted amount.
| Cost | NSW | Victoria | Queensland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond cap | Up to 4 weeks rent | Up to 1 month's rent; higher only if weekly rent exceeds $900 or VCAT sets it | 4 weeks (general tenancies, rooming accommodation); 2 weeks (moveable dwellings); 3 weeks if it is a moveable dwelling with electricity provided |
| Rent in advance | Up to 2 weeks | Not stated on the page reviewed | 1 month (fixed term); 2 weeks (periodic, moveable dwellings, rooming) |
| Application-stage fee | Holding fee up to 1 week, only after landlord approval, credited to rent if you sign | Not covered | Not covered |
| Other start costs | Lease-registration fee, fixed terms of 3+ years only | Not covered | Not covered |
| Who holds the bond | Not stated in the source used | RTBA | RTA, lodged within 10 days |
FAQ
Can my landlord ask for more than these caps? The caps above are statutory maximums. Queensland expressly prohibits asking you to pay more rent in advance than permitted. In Victoria a higher bond is allowed only if weekly rent is above $900 or VCAT has set one.
Do I get the bond back? Yes, minus any unpaid rent or damage claims; the refund process itself is a separate topic covered in our sister article.
Is the holding fee refundable if the landlord pulls out? The NSW source states it must go towards rent if you sign the lease, but does not cover withdrawal scenarios. Ask NSW Fair Trading or your property manager.
Where do I complain about an unlawful request? Your state tenancy authority: NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Victoria or the Queensland RTA.
General information only, current as of October 2026; rules can change and your agreement may vary. Confirm amounts with your state tenancy authority before you pay.