Renting a home in Australia as a new arrival
How renting works in Australia: finding a place, applying, bonds and rent in advance, and the bond rules in every state.
In short
Most new arrivals rent. Homes and rooms are advertised online: you inspect the place, apply through the agent or owner, and if you are approved you sign a lease. You usually pay a bond (a security deposit, often up to 4 weeks' rent) plus some rent in advance. In most states the bond is held by a government body, not the landlord, and you get it back when you leave if there is no damage or unpaid rent.
What to do
Pick the option that fits: a whole place, or a room in a share house. Skip this if you're already settled.
Rent a whole place
Domain and realestate.com.au list rentals you apply for through the agent.
Apply for a place
Many agents ask you to apply through an online form. 2Apply is one of them: it works on a phone, lets a household apply together, and uses two-factor sign-in. Check whether there is any cost to you before you apply. Only apply through a link from an agent you've checked, because applications ask for ID.
Rent a room
Flatmates lists rooms and people looking for rooms. Its app listing says listings are moderated. The app is free to download and sells paid plans.
Before you pay: safety checks
- Inspect in person before you pay anything
- Warning signs: landlord is overseas, asks for a deposit before a viewing, wants gift cards, cash or crypto, rent is unusually low, or you're pressured to hurry (from the NSW Tenants' Union, general advice)
- Get a written tenancy agreement and receipts
Examples only, not endorsements.
Details for your state or territory
Tap your state to see its rules.
South Australia
Read real experiences
Reddit has an Adelaide community where people discuss suburbs and renting. On Facebook, search for Adelaide renting or newcomer groups. Treat all of it as opinion, and never pay or send ID to someone you met online.
Before you pay: safety checks
- In SA a landlord can't take more than the bond plus one upfront rent payment
- Bonds are lodged with Consumer and Business Services (CBS), ideally through Residential Bonds Online, so ask for proof
Examples only, not endorsements. CBS gives free, confidential renting advice on 131 882.
Your renting rights (CBS SA) ↗
Last checked 8 Oct 2026.
New South Wales
Before you pay: safety checks
- In NSW a bond cannot be more than 4 weeks' rent, and rent in advance cannot be more than 2 weeks
- A holding fee cannot be more than 1 week's rent and can only be asked for after your application is approved
- The bond is held by NSW Fair Trading. You can pay it directly through Rental Bonds Online once the landlord or agent invites you
Costs at the start of a tenancy (NSW Government) ↗Rental Bonds Online for tenants (NSW Government) ↗
Last checked 12 Oct 2026.
Victoria
Before you pay: safety checks
- In Victoria a bond usually cannot be more than one month's rent. A higher bond is allowed only if the rent is over $900 a week or VCAT has approved it
- The landlord must lodge your bond with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA), which sends you a receipt. You can also pay the bond directly to the RTBA
- Contact Consumer Affairs Victoria if you are asked for too much bond or rent in advance
Bond amounts and payments (Consumer Affairs Victoria) ↗
Last checked 12 Oct 2026.
Queensland
Before you pay: safety checks
- In Queensland a rental bond cannot be more than 4 weeks' rent, whatever it is called (for example a pet bond)
- The landlord or agent must give you a receipt and lodge the bond with the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) within 10 days
Examples only, not endorsements. The limit on rent in advance was not checked here.
Rental bond (RTA Queensland) ↗
Last checked 12 Oct 2026.
Western Australia
Before you pay: safety checks
- In WA a bond cannot be more than 4 weeks' rent when the rent is $1,200 a week or less, and rent in advance cannot be more than 2 weeks
- You must get a receipt straight away. The landlord must lodge the bond with Bonds Administration within 14 days
- If you have no lodgement notice after two weeks, contact Consumer Protection
Rental bonds (WA Consumer Protection) ↗
Last checked 12 Oct 2026.
Tasmania
Before you pay: safety checks
- In Tasmania a bond cannot be more than 4 weeks' rent and cannot be increased during the tenancy
- Bonds go through the online MyBond system and are held by the Rental Deposit Authority. It is illegal to pay a bond directly to a property owner
- You can pay your bond online in MyBond, through an agent that accepts bonds, or at a Service Tasmania shop
Pay a rental bond (Service Tasmania) ↗
Last checked 12 Oct 2026.
Australian Capital Territory
Before you pay: safety checks
- In the ACT a bond cannot be more than 4 weeks' rent, and a landlord cannot ask for more than 2 weeks' rent in advance
- The bond is lodged with the ACT Revenue Office's Rental Bonds office. A landlord has two weeks to lodge it and an agent has four
- A landlord cannot demand extra bond money, and the bond cannot be used to pay rent
Starting a tenancy (ACT Government) ↗About rental bonds (ACT Revenue Office) ↗
Last checked 12 Oct 2026.
Northern Territory
Before you pay: safety checks
- In the NT a landlord cannot ask for a security deposit of more than 4 weeks' rent, or for more than one bond for the same tenancy
- The landlord holds the deposit in trust and must give you a receipt straight away. You can ask for details of the account it is held in
Examples only, not endorsements. Unlike most states, the pages read do not describe a government body that holds the bond during the tenancy.
Security deposits and bonds (NT Government) ↗
Last checked 12 Oct 2026.