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Your location: Home > Loans and grants > Bond Loans > General information about Bond Loans

What is a Bond Loan?

A Bond Loan is an interest free loan for people who cannot afford to pay a full rental bond to move into private rental accommodation.

How do I know if I am eligible for a Bond Loan?

You may be eligible for a Bond Loan if you meet all of the following conditions:

• you live in Queensland;
• you are not currently living in the premises for which the Bond Loan is required;
  EXCEPTION: This criteria does not apply if you are a resident of a boarding house, aged rental accommodation or supported accommodation and have paid no bond to either your lessor/agent or service provider/manager or the Residential Tenancies Authority prior to the commencement of the Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002, but are required to pay a rental bond that will be lodged with the Residential Tenancies Authority following the commencement of that Act.
• you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, have a temporary protection visa or possess a bridging visa if you previously held a Temporary Protection Visa which has expired;
• you meet the current income limits (17Kb);
• you do not own, or part-own:
  • a residential property; or
  • a caravan, mobile home or live-aboard boat, any of which are permanently connected to normal household utilities;
• you meet the current cash and savings limit - combined for all household occupants not including dependents ($2,500);
• you do not have any outstanding debts with the Queensland Department of Housing or the Queensland Housing Commission; and
• you choose a property where the rent does not exceed 60% of the total household gross weekly income.
  EXCEPTION: This criteria does not apply when the tenancy is under the Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002 and the weekly rent includes accommodation, food service, personal care and other services.
    
  For applicants under the age of 18, please contact the nearest Department of Housing office for more information.

How do I apply for a Bond Loan?

To apply for a Bond Loan, you will need to complete the following forms:

• Private Rental Assistance Household Application Form (76Kb).
• Private Rental Assistance Individual Details Form (67Kb). Each applicant must complete his/her own Private Rental Assistance Individual Details form.

You will also need to provide the department with verification of your income. Please complete the relevant forms for each applicant.

• Employer's Declaration (133Kb),

For incomes other than Centrelink/Veterans' Affairs payments and/or wages, the following evidence of income is acceptable:

• Work Cover payment advice letter or payment slips;
• written statement from a superannuation company;
• a letter from the Child Support Agency outlining child maintenance payments;
• a letter from a registered accountant stating the applicant/s income details; or
• last year's Tax Assessment Notice from the Australian Taxation Office for self employed applicants.

What do I need to supply with my application?

You will need to provide:

• Private Rental Assistance Individual Details form for each applicant;
• proof of income for all applicants (appropriate forms of income are listed at section G on the Private Rental Assistance Household Application form); and
• at least two forms of identification for each applicant; (appropriate forms of identification are listed at section E on the Private Rental Assistance Household Application form).

When you have completed the Private Rental Assistance Household Application and Private Rental Assistance Individual Details forms and have all the required documentation, please telephone your local Department of Housing office to make an appointment for an interview to have your application processed. All proposed household members listed on the general tenancy agreement as tenants other than dependent children must attend the interview.

Do I have to go to the Department of Housing office personally?

No. You can mail or fax your application to a Department of Housing office if you wish. In these cases, a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Declarations is required to witness your application and sight two forms of identification.

Complete the Your Guide to Completing the Private Rental Assistance Form (43Kb), to ensure all details are included in your application.

How will I know if my Bond Loan has been approved?

You will be informed in writing if your Bond Loan application has been approved.

How and where is the rental bond paid?

When you move into your home, the lessor/agent or service provider/manager must lodge the Bond Lodgement Form 2C/Form R2C with the Residential Tenancies Authority. Once the Residential Tenancies Authority has processed this form, they will advise the department and the rental bond will be paid to the Residential Tenancies Authority for you.

How do I repay my Bond Loan?

The Department offers a number of ways for you to repay your Bond Loan. The methods include Centrelink’s Rent Deduction Scheme (Easy Pay), which is a direct debit from your Centrelink payment, and B-Pay, which is a bill paying system using telephone banking. You will find details of the department’s Biller Code number and your reference number printed on your Bond Loan payment card next to the B-Pay logo.

Contact your local Department of Housing office for more information.

Do I have to establish EasyPay to repay my Bond Loan?

Yes. If you receive a Centrelink payment, other than Family Tax Benefit A and Family Tax Benefit B, you must complete the 'EasyPay Deduction Authority for Bond Loan Payments' form as a condition of your Bond Loan application.

Contact your local Department of Housing office for more information

How do I arrange for a refund of my rental bond?

When you move out of your home, you will need to lodge a Refund of Rental Bond Form 4/Form R4 with the Residential Tenancies Authority.

These forms are also available from any Australia Post Office.

How often can I apply for a Bond Loan?

There is no limit to the number of Bond Loans a client may access and there is no waiting time between repaying one Bond Loan and applying for another.

More information

A printable version of the above information is available from the Bond Loans Fact Sheet (128Kb).

For more information, see the frequently asked questions for existing Bond Loan clients or information for lessors/agents or service providers/managers.

Or view the map for your local Department of Housing office's contact details.

Last updated 17 July 2006