Bond, lease and the condition report

Signing the lease

• Read the lease before signing. Standard state lease templates are fairly fair, but landlord clauses can be added.
• Most leases are 6 or 12 months. Longer leases (24 months) are rare and usually favour the tenant.
• "Periodic" leases — when a fixed term ends, the lease automatically becomes periodic (rolling, with notice required to end) in most states.

Paying the bond

• The bond goes to a state-held authority (NSW: Rental Bonds Online; VIC: RTBA; QLD: RTA; etc), not directly to the landlord. Even if the agent collects it, it must be lodged with the authority within a set window (usually 10 working days).
• You'll get a receipt or confirmation directly from the authority. If you don't, ask the agent or contact the authority yourself.
• The bond plus the first 2 weeks' rent is the standard upfront cost.

The condition report

• A condition report is the photographic and written record of the property's state when you move in.
• The agent should give you one within 7 days of your move-in date. You return it with corrections (extra photos, additional damage they missed) within 7 days of receiving.
• This is the single most important thing for getting your bond back. Photograph EVERY surface, especially walls, carpets, oven, bath, tile grout. Email yourself the photos so the timestamps are clear.

Common gotchas

• Paying the bond to the landlord/agent in cash without seeing a state-authority receipt is risky. Always confirm lodgement.
• "Holding deposits" of one or two weeks' rent to "secure" the property before lease signing — legal but the rules vary by state. Don't pay more than one week's rent as a holding deposit, and get a receipt.
• Some properties advertise "rent only" with high weekly rent and no bond. These can be fine, but check why — sometimes it's because the agent's screening process is loose.