Maximum bond

From 30 September 2024, the maximum bond allowed to be taken is equivalent to 4 weeks rent for general tenancies and 2 weeks rent for moveable dwellings, or 3 weeks rent for moveable dwellings if electricity is provided regardless of the weekly rent amount.

The maximum amounts stated in the Act apply to all bonds, no matter what they are called (e.g. pet bond) or how many bonds are taken. It is important to note that there are different rules where accommodation is provided by an employer.

For more information visit our rental bond webpage.  

Claiming excess bond

If a tenancy agreement was renewed after 30 September 2024, tenants may request a refund for any excess bond monies that exceed the maximum bond amount. This can be done by completing an Excess bond refund for tenants (Form 4b) and lodging the form by post.

You should only complete and lodge a Excess bond refund for tenants (Form 4b) with the RTA if:

• you are a tenant, and
• the tenancy agreement was renewed after 30 September 2024, and
• the current bond is more than the equivalent of 4 weeks of the current rent, and
• you are not moving into a new property and the tenancy has not ended, and
• each bond contributor has signed the form.

The RTA cannot process the excess bond refund request without signatures from all bond contributors (tenants may need to submit multiple forms to capture the details of each bond contributor).

Please note: An excess bond refund request without signatures from all bond contributors cannot be accepted by the RTA. If there are more than 3 bond contributors, tenants are required to submit multiple forms to capture the details of each bond contributor.  

The RTA recognises that bond contributors can change throughout a tenancy. The bond record can be updated with a Change of bond contributors request (Form 6). If not all bond contributors sign the Excess bond refund for tenants (Form 4b), and no Change of bond contributors (Form 6) is submitted, the excess bond cannot be released until the end of the tenancy. At that time, the bond will be processed according to the legislative process.