Bond Loans & Rental Grants for Brisbane Renters

Coming up with a bond — plus often two or four weeks' rent in advance — is one of the biggest barriers to moving into a rental in Brisbane, especially if you're renting for the first time, escaping a difficult living situation, or just went through an unexpected move. The Queensland Government runs a small suite of interest-free, fee-free loan and grant programs specifically to help with this. This guide walks through what's available, who qualifies, and how to apply, based on the Department of Housing's own published criteria. If you haven't been through the general rental process before, our First-Time Renter's Guide to Brisbane covers bonds, applications and condition reports from the start.

What's available

Queensland's Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works offers four main types of assistance, and you can be assessed for more than one at the same time.

Bond Loan

Covers the cost of your rental bond. You can borrow up to 4 weeks' rent, interest-free and fee-free, paid directly to the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) on your behalf. It has to be repaid, but there's no interest or fees added on top.

Bond Loan Plus

For when you need help with both the bond and the first couple of weeks of rent. You can borrow up to 6 weeks' rent — the bond amount goes to the RTA, and an amount equal to 2 weeks' rent goes to your property owner or manager. Also interest-free and fee-free. If you're experiencing domestic, family, or sexual violence, a Bond Loan Plus isn't recommended — a Bond Loan plus a Rental Grant is the better combination in that situation, and is fast-tracked (see below).

Bridging Bond Loan

Useful if you're moving straight from one rental into another and need to cover the new bond before the RTA has released your old one. Also up to 4 weeks' rent, interest-free and fee-free, and repayable.

Rental Grant

A one-off payment equal to 2 weeks' rent that does not need to be repaid, paid directly to your property owner or manager. It's aimed specifically at people in a housing crisis, so it has its own additional eligibility conditions on top of the general criteria (see below).

You can apply for a Bond Loan and a Rental Grant together, or a Bridging Bond Loan and a Rental Grant together, in a single application.

Who's eligible

To be considered for a Bond Loan, Bridging Bond Loan, Bond Loan Plus, or Rental Grant, you generally need to meet all of the following:

• You're not already living in the property you need the bond for (this condition doesn't apply if you're applying for a Bridging Bond Loan)
• You're an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a temporary protection or bridging visa
• You (and any other applicants combined) have less than $5,500 in cash or savings, not counting dependants
• Your household income is under the relevant income limit (see table below)
• You don't own or part-own a residential property, caravan, mobile home, or a permanently-connected live-aboard boat
• The rent on the new home won't be more than 60% of the combined gross weekly income of everyone applying

If you have existing debts with the Department of Housing, you'll usually need to sign a debt repayment agreement as part of the process.

Income limits (combined gross weekly income, before tax)

If your household doesn't match one of these, the limit is calculated as $1,427.72 for the first adult, plus $713.86 for each additional adult, plus $428.31 for each dependant (rounded to the nearest dollar).

Combined income counts: wages, Centrelink and Department of Veterans' Affairs payments, Family Tax Benefit, Youth Allowance, and income from interest or investments.

Combined income doesn't count: DVA Total and Permanent Impairment pensions, certain Military Rehabilitation and Compensation payments, income of dependent children under 18, National Redress Scheme payments, Escaping Violence payments, or the Tertiary Access Payment.

Additional conditions for a Rental Grant

On top of the general criteria above, you need to meet at least one of these:

• You're leaving a community-based rent scheme in Queensland for a private rental, and you apply within 14 days of leaving it
• You or someone in your household is experiencing domestic and family violence or sexual violence
• You're currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
• Within the last 3 months you've spent at least 28 days in one of: an approved centre such as emergency housing or a women's shelter, a correctional facility, a hospital or mental health/rehabilitation facility, or a child protection service

If you're experiencing domestic, family, or sexual violence, your Bond Loan or Bridging Bond Loan application is automatically approved — you'll still need to provide information about your circumstances, but the usual assessment is fast-tracked.

If you're under 18, you can't apply through the standard online process — call Housing Services on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) directly.

How to apply

You can apply either online or on paper.

Online, through the Department's application portal, for any of:

• Bond Loan
• Bond Loan Plus
• Bridging Bond Loan
• Rental Grant
• Bond Loan + Rental Grant (combined)
• Bridging Bond Loan + Rental Grant (combined)

You can save an online application partway through and come back to finish it within 28 days.

By paper, if you can't apply online, using the printable forms available from the Department of Housing.

Every applicant needs to supply:

• Proof of income
• At least 2 forms of identification
• Proof of Australian residency status
• Details of the rental property you're moving into

Because these applications are assessed against the rental property itself, it generally helps to have found and been approved for the property first — but check with Housing Services if your timing is tight, since your first rent payment may fall due before the loan or grant is processed.

Repaying a bond loan

Bond loans (not Rental Grants — those never need repaying) are repaid on the terms set in your loan agreement, and everyone named on the loan is jointly responsible for repaying it in full. You can repay early if you want to.

If you receive Centrelink payments, using the free Rent Deduction Scheme to repay is a condition of approval — repayments come straight out of your Centrelink payment each fortnight. Otherwise, repayments can be made by BPay, a repayment barcode at any Australia Post outlet or Queensland Government service office, or an automatic payment set up through your own bank.

If you're struggling to keep up with repayments, contact the Bond Loan Arrears team rather than letting it lapse — see the References section below for the number. And if you're repaying a bond loan on a tenancy that's coming to an end, see our guide to ending a tenancy in Brisbane for how your bond refund and any loan repayment interact.

RentConnect — help beyond just the money

If your barrier to renting isn't only financial — limited rental history, not knowing how the application process works, or not having the right paperwork ready — RentConnect is a separate, complementary service worth knowing about. RentConnect officers, based in Housing Service Centres across Queensland, can:

• Help you understand and navigate the rental application process
• Help you fill out application forms
• Connect you with local real estate agents
• Help with short-term tenancy problems once you're in a rental, so you can maintain it going forward

There's no income test to access the general RentConnect advisory service — it's the bond loans and rental grants specifically that have income limits. If you also need financial help, a RentConnect officer can help you apply for a Bond Loan or Rental Grant as part of the same conversation.

Getting help in person in Brisbane

Bond loans and rental grants are administered as a statewide Queensland Government program, so the eligibility rules and income limits are identical whether you're renting in the inner city or an outer Greater Brisbane suburb. Where Brisbane comes in is access: the Department runs several Housing Service Centres across the city where you can get in-person help with your application, ask questions about eligibility, or access RentConnect support directly. Brisbane-area centres include:

• Buranda Housing Service Centre — Level 1, 221 Logan Road, Woolloongabba
• Chermside Housing Service Centre — Level 3, 18 Banfield Street, Chermside
• Fortitude Valley Housing Service Centre — Level 7, 515 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley
• Inala Housing Service Centre — Level 1, 14 Wirraway Parade, Inala
• Logan Housing Service Centre — 11 Station Road, Woodridge
• Bayside Housing Service Centre — Shop 3, 8–12 Dollery Road, Capalaba

Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) to confirm current opening hours or book an appointment, since these can change — see the References section for the Department's Housing Service Centre finder.

Working out how much bond you'll actually need

Because a Bond Loan or Bridging Bond Loan is capped at 4 weeks' rent, it helps to know roughly what rent to expect in the Brisbane suburb you're targeting before you apply, so you're not caught short. The RTA publishes its own median rents quick finder, broken down by postcode and dwelling type each quarter — a genuinely useful first stop, alongside checking the rent estimate on the suburb page you're considering here on Live in Brisbane, or the moving cost calculator if you want the bond folded into a full moving-cost estimate, before you start inspecting properties.

Checklist: applying for a bond loan or rental grant

• Check the income limit table above against your household's combined gross weekly income
• Confirm you (and any co-applicants) have less than $5,500 combined in cash/savings
• Confirm none of the applicants own or part-own residential property
• Check the target rent won't exceed 60% of your combined gross weekly income
• If applying for a Rental Grant, confirm you meet at least one of the additional conditions
• Gather proof of income for every applicant
• Gather at least 2 forms of ID for every applicant
• Gather proof of Australian residency status for every applicant
• Have the details of the specific rental property ready (address, rent, property manager)
• Decide whether to apply online or by paper form
• If eligible, decide how you'll make bond loan repayments (Rent Deduction Scheme, BPay, barcode, or automatic payment)
• If you're not sure which program fits, contact Housing Services or a RentConnect officer before applying

References

• Queensland Government — Bond loans and rental grants
• Queensland Government — Types of bond loans and rental grants
• Queensland Government — Checking your eligibility
• Queensland Government — Applying for a bond loan or rental grant
• Queensland Government — Repaying your bond loan
• Queensland Government — RentConnect
• Queensland Government — Housing Service Centres
• RTA — Median rents quick finder
• Bond Loan Arrears team: 1800 501 702
• Housing Services: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

This guide is general information based on published Queensland Government criteria for bond loans and rental grants, current as of the Department's last review (30 June 2026). It isn't financial or legal advice, and eligibility is ultimately assessed by the Department of Housing on a case-by-case basis. For advice specific to your situation, contact Housing Services on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or your nearest Housing Service Centre. Live in Brisbane is an independent project and is not affiliated with the Queensland Government.