[gordon]

Hi,

I'll be moving to Brisbane this year and will be renting a place for about 6 months or so to begin with. Can anyone advise what kind of rental references or paperwork is needed and how much deposit do you normally need?

[Gabriella8]

are you moving from another region or is this your 1st time to rent in Australia? if this is your first time, then they will ask you for your employer's contact (that's what our agent asked us when we first moved in last year).
Usually, you have to pay first two weeks to a month in advance plus rental bond.

[Martha]

Hello Gordon,

The deposit is four weeks rent usually, plus pay 2 weeks in advance every fortnight. If you can't get a reference from a current employer, maybe one from the bank if you've been a customer for a long time, or a member of the clergy if you belong to a church group. The department of housing Queensland also may assist you with information. Here is their link.

www.public-housing.qld.gov.au/about/doh/sites.htm

[gordon]

Thanks for you advice. This will be our first trip to Australia. :)

[Housewife]

Hi,
Another suggestion is that if you are currently renting you could bring a reference along from your previous landlord or else get a letter from your bank to say that you pay your mortgage on time. If you are selling your house, you could also ask your estate agents for a letter saying that your house is clean and presentable.

[Cliff]

Info on rental bonds from www.rta.qld.gov.au:

A rental bond is money paid by the tenant in case they breach the tenancy agreement. It is not compulsory for a rental bond to be taken. If one is paid, it must be lodged with the RTA within 10 days of receipt by the lessor/agent with a completed bond lodgement (form 2).

No more than four weeks rent (two weeks for moveable dwellings) can be charged as a rental bond, if the weekly rent is $700 or less. There is no limit if the weekly rent exceeds $700. Where rent is subsidised by an employer, the maximum bond is the greater of $400 or the equivalent of two weeks (moveable dwellings) or four weeks rent (general dwellings). Lessors/agents cannot charge a rental bond fee to cover the costs of complying with the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008.http://www.rta.qld.gov.au/rental_bonds_section.cfm


and they also provide a list of fact sheets to help tenants

http://www.rta.qld.gov.au/tenant.cfm

[gordon]

Thanks for the links Cliff, very useful info.:)