Aussie Calculators

ACT · 4 weeks rent Access Canberra

Rental Bond Calculator — Australian Capital Territory

In the ACT a bond cannot be more than 4 weeks of rent, and landlords cannot ask for extra bond money for any reason.

1 Enter the weekly rent2 See the maximum bond

$

Per fortnight the rent is about $0, and per calendar month about $0.

Step 2 · your result

Maximum bond

$0

the most that can legally be charged

Bond works out as
—
Rent in advance (capped at 2 weeks)
—
Total to have ready
—
Bond as a share of a year’s rent
—

Bond limit from Access Canberra, checked 12 October 2026. General information only — not legal advice.

The rule in full

The bond amount cannot be more than 4 weeks of rent.

Source wording, Access Canberra. Checked 12 October 2026.

What else you may have to pay upfront

In ACT the upfront costs are capped too. The government page lists:

Only pay a bond that is properly receipted and lodged. The bond is not the landlord’s money — in ACT it is held by NSW Fair Trading through Rental Bonds Online. If someone asks you to hand over a bond in cash with no lodgement, that is a warning sign.

Where the bond goes, and how it comes back

  1. You pay the bond at the start of the tenancy, or the rental provider lodges it on your behalf.
  2. It is lodged with Access Canberra and held in trust — you get a receipt and can check it online through Rental Bonds Online.
  3. At the end of the tenancy the bond is repaid once the parties agree on how it should be split.
  4. If you cannot agree, a claim is made and the dispute is decided by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the rental bond in ACT?

In the ACT a bond cannot be more than 4 weeks of rent, and landlords cannot ask for extra bond money for any reason. On a rent of $600 a week that is a maximum of $2,400.

Can the landlord ask for more than the maximum?

No. The bond amount cannot be more than 4 weeks of rent. There is no higher tier and no exception for expensive properties.

What is the bond actually for?

It is security for the rental provider if the property is damaged or left owing money. It is still your money — it is held by the government authority rather than the landlord, and it is refunded to you at the end of the tenancy once the parties agree (or a tribunal decides).

When do I get the bond back?

At the end of the tenancy, once the rental provider and renter agree on how it should be repaid. If you cannot agree, a claim can be made and the dispute goes to the tribunal — the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Is the bond the only upfront cost?

No. As well as the bond, tenants can be asked to pay up to 2 weeks rent in advance. So the usual upfront total is the bond plus the rent in advance.

Can I be charged a pet bond?

It depends on the state. ACT does not list a separate pet bond on the page this calculator is based on, so check with Access Canberra before paying anything described as a pet bond.

How current is this?

The limit is taken from Access Canberra, checked 12 October 2026. Rent caps and bond rules do change — the source link is at the bottom of this page so you can check it yourself.

Other states