Tenancy agreements & bonds

Tenancy Agreement
A Tenancy Agreement is a contract between tenants and landlords that is signed before a new tenant moves in.

The Agreement usually contains the contact details of the landlord and tenant(s), the date and terms of the tenancy, details of the rent and bond, and a list of furniture and appliances included with the property. The landlord can make some changes to the Agreement as long as they don't infringe on a tenant's rights.

It can also include a property inspection report to record the condition of the property when you moved in. This will be used when you move out to determine how much of your bond will be returned.

Check out a standard tenancy agreement on the Department of Building and Housing website.

Bonds
Most tenants are required to pay a bond before moving into a new property. This is held by the Department of Building and Housing. They will hold the money for you until you move out.

Provided the property is left in good condition when you move out (i.e. there is no damage to be repaired, or significant cleaning required) you should be able to get the bond refunded or transferred to the next place you're moving.