Tenancy bond

The bond is money that you pay as security for the landlord. If you don’t pay all your rent, or if you cause damage to the place, then the landlord can ask to keep some or all of the bond money when you leave.

The landlord can ask you to pay up to the equivalent of 4 weeks’ rent as bond. (This is the most the landlord can ask you for.)

You pay the bond to the landlord who has to lodge the money with the Department of Building and Housing within 23 working days. Your landlord must give you a receipt for the bond money you pay them. There is a bond lodgement form that you and the landlord must fill out before the money is sent to us.

You can pay the bond directly to the Department of Building and Housing if you have your landlord’s consent.

The Department of Building and Housing will send you and the landlord a receipt for the bond and will hold the money until the end of the tenancy. If you don’t get a letter from us about the bond money, you should call us.

At the end of the tenancy, if you have not caused any damage or loss (like not paying your rent), you complete a bond refund form and your bond will be refunded. If you have caused damage, all or some of your bond will be paid to the landlord to cover repairs or rent.

Want to know more?

Free advice and information on bonds is available – call freephone 0800 737 666, or download our information sheet All about tenancy bonds, which explains what a bond is, how to lodge it, how to transfer it, and how to get a bond refund.