Renting in Australia: how to apply and pay your bond

Why is renting in Australia competitive?

The rental market in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane is highly competitive — a well-priced property may attract 20–50+ applications. The final decision belongs to the landlord or property manager. Knowing the process and preparing a strong application gives you a genuine advantage.

Documents you need

100-point identity verification:

Australian passport or overseas passport (70 points).
Australian driver’s licence (40 points).
Medicare card (25 points), visa grant letter, bank card, utility bill…

Proof of income:

2–3 recent payslips or a signed employment contract confirming salary.
3 months of bank statements if self-employed or recently started work.
Casual workers: 3–6 months of work history showing regular earnings.
New arrivals without Australian employment: demonstrate strong savings and a signed employment contract if available; offering a higher bond upfront (where permitted) may also help.

References:

A reference from a previous landlord or property manager is most valued. If this is your first rental, use references from your employer, lecturer, or manager.
Prepare 2 references with name, phone number, email, and relationship.

Pets:

Disclose pets upfront. Concealing a pet that is later discovered can result in lease termination.

The application process

Step 1: Inspect the property

Search on realestate.com.au, domain.com.au, or rent.com.au. Register for an inspection time through the listing or contact the agent directly.

Step 2: Submit an application

Most applications are submitted online via 1Form (realestate.com.au), 2Apply (domain.com.au), Ignite, or Snug.
Have your documents pre-scanned and ready to upload — early applications have an advantage.

Step 3: Reference check

The agent contacts your references and verifies the information you provided.

Step 4: Outcome

If accepted: sign the lease and pay the bond plus first week’s rent before collecting the keys.
If unsuccessful: no explanation is typically given. Apply elsewhere.

Bond

The bond is usually 4 weeks’ rent and must be paid before you receive the keys. Crucially, the bond must be lodged with the relevant state government authority (not held by the landlord) — see the bond and tenant rights article for state-by-state details on lodgement, disputes, and refunds.

Tips for standing out

Prepare your documents in advance — have everything scanned and saved on your phone or Google Drive so you can submit during or immediately after the inspection.
Create accounts on 1Form / 2Apply / Snug in advance and pre-fill your profile.
Arrive on time and be polite to the agent. First impressions influence decisions.
Express genuine interest directly to the agent: “We are very interested in this property.”
Write a brief cover letter (one short paragraph): who you are, what you do, and why you want this property. Many agents appreciate this.
Be flexible on move-in date — aligning with the landlord’s preferred start date reduces their vacancy period and makes your application more attractive.

Discrimination protections

Landlords cannot refuse an application on the basis of race, religion, nationality, sex, pregnancy, or disability under Australian anti-discrimination law. If you believe you have been unlawfully refused, contact the Australian Human Rights Commission or your state’s Equal Opportunity commission. In practice, discrimination is difficult to prove, but protections do exist.