Your bond is your money — held in trust until the end of your tenancy. Understanding your rights around it is one of the most important things you can do as a Perth renter.
How Bonds Are Held in WA
In Western Australia, all residential tenancy bonds must be lodged with the Bond Administrator, which is managed by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS). Your landlord or property manager cannot hold the bond themselves. They must lodge it within a specific timeframe of receiving it.
You can confirm your bond is properly lodged by contacting the Bond Administrator directly.
Maximum Bond Amount
In WA, the maximum bond a landlord can charge is 4 weeks' rent for unfurnished properties and 6 weeks' rent for furnished properties. If you were charged more than this, it's a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1987.
What Can Be Deducted From Your Bond
At the end of a tenancy, a landlord can claim bond money for:
- Unpaid rent
- Cleaning costs where the property wasn't returned in a reasonable state of cleanliness
- Damage beyond fair wear and tear
- Outstanding bills (water usage, utilities) specified in the lease
- Costs for replacing items that are missing or damaged
What Cannot Be Deducted
- Fair wear and tear from normal use
- Pre-existing damage documented in the ingoing condition report
- Costs the landlord would incur regardless (e.g., repainting after a normal-length tenancy)
- Any amount beyond the actual cost incurred
How to Get Your Bond Back
Both you and your property manager must agree on the bond disposal. If you agree it should be refunded in full, either party can submit a bond disposal form to DMIRS. If there's a dispute, the matter goes to the Magistrates Court. See our full guide to getting your bond back for step-by-step details.
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