If the landlord increases the rent, they can ask the tenant to pay a bond top-up. This can be for a general bond and pet bond. If the landlord permanently decreases the rent, a portion of the general bond or pet bond will need to be refunded to the tenant.

When the landlord can increase the bond

The landlord can increase a general bond and pet bond if they lawfully increase the rent.

The landlord can only increase the rent lawfully. Find out more about this in the ‘Rent increases and reductions’ section.

Rent increases and reductions

For example:

  • The tenant has paid a general bond of 3 weeks’ rent.
  • The weekly rent goes up by $10.
  • This means the landlord can request a top up of $30 to be paid to the general bond.

If the tenant also paid a pet bond of 2 weeks’ rent, the landlord can request a bond top-up of $20 to be paid to the pet bond.

The landlord can only request a bond top-up payment for a current rent increase. If the landlord has increased the rent before and they did not request a bond top-up at that time, they cannot request a bond top-up now.

Rent increases and reductions

What happens if the bond is increased

If the general bond or pet bond is increased:

  • the landlord must give the tenant written notice
  • the tenant must pay the bond top-up.

In most situations, the landlord must also lodge the bond top-up with Tenancy Services within the required timeframe.

Paying a bond

About lodging a bond

When the landlord can decrease the bond

The landlord can decrease a general bond and pet bond if:

  • they decrease the rent permanently, and
  • the bond the tenant has already paid is now more than the maximum amount allowed.

The maximum bond is:

  • 4 weeks’ rent for general bond
  • 2 weeks’ rent for pet bond.

For example:

  • The tenant paid a general bond of 4 weeks’ rent, which was $800 ($200 a week).
  • The weekly rent is decreased by $10 a week (to $190 a week).
  • The maximum amount of bond that can be charged is now $760 (4 weeks’ rent).
  • This means the tenant should receive a refund of $40 general bond.

If the tenant also paid a pet bond of 2 weeks’ rent, they should also receive a refund of $20 pet bond.

What happens if the bond is decreased

The portion of the general bond or pet bond needs to be refunded to the tenant.

Refunding a bond

Rent increases and reductions

 

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Last updated: 01 December 2025