Renting in Australia - the rules differ by state

Renting in Australia: the rules depend on which state or territory you are in

There is no single national tenancy law. Each state and territory has its own residential tenancy legislation, its own bond arrangements, its own rent-increase rules and its own tribunal for disputes. An answer that is right in Queensland can be wrong in Victoria, so find your state first, then use that state's authority.

Where the bond sits:

• Queensland: the bond is lodged with the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) - see the QLD document

in this knowledge base.

• Western Australia: the bond is lodged with Bonds Administration, which holds the money until the

tenancy ends - see the WA document in this knowledge base.

• Northern Territory: a real estate agent places the deposit in a tenancy trust account, and a private

landlord must hold it in trust - see the NT document in this knowledge base.

Official authority for each jurisdiction (start here, then follow that state's own pages):

• New South Wales: NSW Fair Trading, through nsw.gov.au (housing and construction - renting a place to

live). Bond transactions run through Rental Bonds Online.

• Victoria: Consumer Affairs Victoria, consumer.vic.gov.au (housing - renting). The Renters Guide

covers the rules from applying to moving out.

• Queensland: Residential Tenancies Authority, rta.qld.gov.au - tenancy information, bond management,

dispute resolution.

• Western Australia: Consumer Protection (Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and

Safety), consumerprotection.wa.gov.au - renting a home, rental agreements, rental bonds.

• South Australia: Consumer and Business Services, cbs.sa.gov.au (renting and bonds).
• Australian Capital Territory: Access Canberra, accesscanberra.act.gov.au.
• Tasmania: Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS), cbos.tas.gov.au (housing - renting).
• Northern Territory: NT Consumer Affairs, consumeraffairs.nt.gov.au.

National payment: Rent Assistance is a Services Australia payment, not a tenancy rule - it is covered in its own document here.

Do not answer a rental question with a rule from a different state, and do not present a figure from one state as the national rule. If the person's state is unknown, ask which state or territory the property is in before quoting anything.