Guide to Renting

Rental Bond
In Queensland under the Residential Tenancies Act you will normally be required to pay a bond equivalent to four weeks rent. Under the Act, you cannot be required to pay an amount in excess of four weeks rent except where the property rent is equivalent to or exceeds $300 per week. Bonds for properties in these circumstances must be negotiated directly with the Agent.

See our on line Rent & Bond Calculator 

When you are signing up your tenancy, you will be asked to sign a RTA Form 2, which is a Lodgement of Bond. This form notes the full amount of the bond and the apportionment between the Tenants noted on the tenancy.

The Agent, on behalf of the Landlord, must then lodge this bond to the Residential Tenancy Authority within seven days. Upon processing of this Lodgement form and bond by the RTA, a receipt will be issued to both you, the Tenant, and the agent noting a bond number. This form should be kept in your tenancy folder as you will need the reference number on this receipt at the end of your tenancy.

Documentation Costs 
In Queensland it is illegal either the Tenant or the Landlord a cost for documentation. However, this should not be confused with an Agent’s right to charge a Landlord a letting fee which can be the maximum of one week’s rent, or to charge the Tenant for reimbursement of a Landlord’s costs. In the case of a Tenant breaking a lease, in these circumstances they will be responsible for paying the cost of finding a replacement Tenant which will be charged to the Landlord for the Agent providing this service.