Renting in Australia for International Students: Bonds and Scams
Renting in Australia for international students works like this: your bond must not stay with the landlord. It is lodged with a state authority: NSW Fair Trading (through Rental Bonds Online), the RTBA in Victoria, the Residential Tenancies Authority in Queensland, or Consumer and Business Services in South Australia. You get it back through that authority when you move out. You have the same renting rights as local renters. Never pay for a place you have not inspected or cannot verify.
Last checked: 20 October 2026.
Rental bonds by state: who holds your money
A bond is a security payment you make before moving in. It covers unpaid rent or damage when you leave. In each state below, the law requires the landlord or agent to pass it to a government body, not keep it in their own account.
| State | Who holds the bond | Maximum bond | Lodging deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW Fair Trading; tenants manage and claim bonds through Rental Bonds Online | Not confirmed on the page we checked | Not confirmed on the page we checked | NSW Government: residential rental bonds |
| Victoria | Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) | In most cases no more than one month’s rent (higher only if rent is over AUD 900 a week, or VCAT orders) | Within 14 days (not counting public holidays) | Consumer Affairs Victoria |
| Queensland | Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) | 4 weeks’ rent for general tenancies and rooming accommodation | Within 10 days of receiving it | RTA Queensland |
| South Australia | Consumer and Business Services (CBS); check your bond in Residential Bonds Online | See CBS bonds page | See CBS bonds page | CBS South Australia |
New South Wales: Rental Bonds Online
The NSW Government’s rental bonds page says a rental bond is money a tenant pays to a landlord or agent and is “held by NSW Fair Trading as security”. Both tenants and landlords can manage or claim bonds through Rental Bonds Online. If you are eligible and moving to a new rental, you may be able to transfer your existing bond through Smart Rental Bonds instead of paying a new one in full.
NSW also limits rent in advance: the NSW rules for renting say a landlord or agent can ask for “up to 2 weeks in advance, but no more”. For Sydney costs, see our Sydney student cost of living guide.
Victoria: the RTBA
- Maximum: Consumer Affairs Victoria says that “in most cases, a bond can’t be more than one month’s rent”. A higher bond is allowed only if the rent is over AUD 900 a week or VCAT has approved it.
- Lodging: the rental provider must lodge the bond with the RTBA within 14 days, not counting public holidays. The RTBA then gives you a receipt with the bond number within seven days.
- Condition report: before you move in, the rental provider must give you two signed copies of the condition report. You must complete one and return it within three days of moving in.
- Your rights: Consumer Affairs Victoria’s page for international students says you “have the same renting rights as local residents” under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. There is also a Nepali-language section on its site.
Queensland: the RTA
- Maximum: 4 weeks’ rent for general tenancies and rooming accommodation. The RTA’s rental bond page says taking more is an offence.
- Lodging: the property manager or owner must lodge the bond with the RTA within 10 days and give you a receipt. The RTA then sends an “Acknowledgement of rental bond” to everyone who paid into the bond.
- Entry condition report: you must get a copy at the start of the tenancy. Return it signed within 7 days after the later of the day you moved in or the day you got the report. If you don’t, you are taken to agree with the owner’s description. Take photos and videos.
- Refund: the bond is paid back when you move out, minus any unpaid rent or damage costs.
South Australia, WA, ACT, Tasmania and NT
In South Australia, Consumer and Business Services lets you check whether your bond has been lodged, and track a bond claim, through Residential Bonds Online. For Western Australia, the ACT, the Northern Territory and Tasmania, Study Australia’s accommodation page lists the official tenancy and consumer-protection services for each. Check your own state’s rules before you sign, because rental laws differ between states and territories.
Renting in Australia for international students, step by step
- Arrive with a short-term booking. Book university or temporary housing for your first weeks, then inspect places in person.
- Inspect before you pay. Scamwatch says: “Never pay money for a rental property you cannot inspect.”
- Check who you are dealing with. Confirm the agent is licensed in your state. If someone says they work for an agency, call that agency on its official number.
- Read the agreement. Check the rent, bond, length of the lease, and which bills (electricity, gas, water, internet) are included.
- Pay the bond the official way. Make sure it is lodged with the state authority, and keep the receipt or bond number. In Victoria, Consumer Affairs suggests asking to pay the RTBA directly.
- Do the condition report carefully. Note every mark and take dated photos. Return it on time: 3 days in Victoria, 7 days in Queensland.
- Keep records. Keep copies of the agreement, receipts, bank transfers and messages with the landlord.
- When you leave, clean, take exit photos and claim your bond through the state authority.
Rental scams: warning signs from Scamwatch
According to Scamwatch, the government’s scam-warning service, rental scammers pose as landlords and advertise properties that don’t exist, or that exist but aren’t theirs. They make excuses for why you can’t inspect, and they ask for a bond or rent in advance. They may also ask for your passport or licence. Watch for:
- “Landlords” who say they are overseas or interstate and must do everything online.
- Excuses that keep stopping you from viewing the property.
- Pressure to pay quickly to “secure” the room.
- A bank account name that doesn’t match the person or business you think you’re paying.
- Requests to pay by money order, pre-loaded card, or to several different PayIDs or accounts.
- Photos that also appear in other listings. Consumer Affairs Victoria suggests a reverse image search.
Scamwatch also warns about callers who claim to be from a government department and threaten arrest or deportation over “a problem with your visa” unless you pay. Hang up and contact the agency yourself using its official details.
If you’ve been scammed: contact your bank immediately and ask it to stop the payment, change your passwords, call IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for free help, and report it to Scamwatch.
For Nepali students: before you fly
- Don’t send a bond from Nepal for a room you found on social media. This is exactly what scammers ask for. Book short-term housing and inspect after you land.
- Budget for the bond and first rent. In Queensland a bond can be up to four weeks’ rent. See Australia cost of living by city for rents.
- Living with relatives or friends? Still agree the rent in writing and keep payment records. It avoids family fights later.
- Check your departure list. Our TIA departure checklist covers documents and money for the first weeks.
Common mistakes
- Paying the bond in cash with no receipt and no bond number.
- Skipping the condition report or returning it late.
- Signing a lease without checking which bills are included.
- Trusting a “landlord” who can’t show the property.
- Not knowing which state authority holds your bond when you move out.
Frequently asked questions
Where is my rental bond kept in Australia?
With a state body, not the landlord. That is NSW Fair Trading in New South Wales, the RTBA in Victoria, the RTA in Queensland, and Consumer and Business Services in South Australia.
How much bond can a landlord ask for in Australia?
It depends on the state. In Queensland the maximum is 4 weeks’ rent for general tenancies. In Victoria it is usually no more than one month’s rent, unless the rent is over AUD 900 a week.
Do international students have the same tenant rights in Australia?
Yes. Consumer Affairs Victoria, for example, says international students have the same renting rights as local residents. Study Australia says you have a right to accommodation that is secure and reasonably maintained.
How do I know if a rental listing in Australia is a scam?
Warning signs include being unable to inspect, pressure to pay fast, a payee name that doesn’t match, and unusual payment methods. Never pay for a property you cannot inspect.
How do I get my bond back?
Claim it through the state authority when you move out, such as Rental Bonds Online in NSW or the RTA in Queensland. Costs for unpaid rent or damage may be deducted, which is why your condition report and photos matter.
Your next step
Compare rents by city · Student work hours explained · Study in Australia from Nepal
Related guides
- Australia Cost of Living for Students: 6 Cities Compared (2026)
- Australia Student Visa Refusal Reasons and What to Do Next
- Australia Student Visa Work Hours: 48 per Fortnight Explained
- Australian Student Visa From Nepal: How to Apply (Subclass 500)
Sources
- Residential rental bonds – NSW Government
- Rules for renting – NSW Government
- Bond amounts and paying a bond – Consumer Affairs Victoria
- International students – Consumer Affairs Victoria
- Rental scams – Consumer Affairs Victoria
- Rental bond – Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland)
- Entry condition report – Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland)
- Renting – Consumer and Business Services (South Australia)
- Accommodation – Study Australia
- Buying and selling scams (including rental scams) – Scamwatch
- Threat scams – Scamwatch
- Report a scam – Scamwatch
Last checked: 20 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Tenancy laws differ by state and change; check your state’s official tenancy service before signing.
Responses