How much bond can a landlord ask for in the ACT?
A landlord in the ACT can legally ask for a maximum of four weeks' rent as a rental bond. They cannot demand more than this amount, regardless of whether the property is fully furnished or if you are keeping pets.
Was this helpful?
11 readers found this helpful
How it works in practice
Legal Bond Limit in the ACT
In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the law strictly limits how much a landlord can ask you to pay as a security deposit, commonly known as a rental bond. The absolute maximum amount a landlord or real estate agent can require is the equivalent of four weeks' rent.
Extra Charges Are Illegal
This four-week limit applies universally to all residential tenancy agreements. A landlord cannot ask for additional bond money to cover specific situations. For example, they are legally prohibited from charging a "pet bond" if you have animals, or a "furniture bond" if you are moving into a fully furnished property.
Lodging Your Bond Money
Once you pay your rental bond, the landlord or agent cannot keep the money in their personal or business bank account. By law, they must lodge the full amount with the ACT Revenue Office within a strict timeframe. You should receive an official receipt or notification confirming that your money is being held securely by the government until your tenancy ends.
Protecting Your Financial Rights
Knowing this limit protects you from excessive upfront costs when moving into a new home. If a landlord demands more than four weeks' rent, they are breaching the Residential Tenancies Act, and you have the right to refuse the extra payment and report the violation.
Important exceptions
There are no legal exceptions that allow a landlord to charge more than four weeks' rent for a standard residential bond at the start of a tenancy in the ACT. The four-week cap is a strict legal maximum.
However, if your weekly rent increases during your tenancy, the landlord can theoretically ask you to top up the bond to match the new four-week total. They can only do this if it is explicitly stated in your lease agreement and they follow proper notice periods.
Additionally, this limit applies specifically to standard residential tenancies and may not cover commercial leases or short-term holiday accommodations.
What you should do now
-
Calculate your maximum legal bond by multiplying your agreed weekly rent by four.
-
Refuse any requests from the landlord or agent to pay an additional pet or furniture bond.
-
Pay your agreed bond directly to the landlord or agent using a traceable payment method.
-
Request a formal, written receipt immediately after making your initial bond payment.
-
Check your email or mailbox for official confirmation from the ACT Revenue Office that your bond has been successfully lodged.
Expert Notes
No expert notes have been added to this question yet.
People also asked
Explore highly relevant questions and get instant verified short answers.